Violence erupted in Paris today as Yellow Vest protesters calling for French President Emmanuel Macron to resign took to the streets for the eighteenth Saturday in a row.
Teargas and baton charged were used by riot police on a so-called ‘Act XVIII’ Day of Rage organised by the Yellow Vest movement.
Fighting broke out on the Champs Elysee, the most famous avenue in the French capital, by 11am, when there had already been 25 arrests.
Violence erupted in Paris today as Yellow Vest protesters calling for French President Emmanuel Macron to resign took to the streets for the eighteenth Saturday in a row
Teargas and baton charged were used by riot police on a so-called ‘Act XVIII’ Day of Rage organised by the Yellow Vest movement
Fighting broke out on the Champs Elysee, the most famous avenue in the French capital, by 11am, when there had already been 25 arrests
The protesters were attempting to march on the Elysee Palace, Mr Macron’s official home, but were held back by barriers and rows of police
‘Gangs are targeting police, and carrying out numerous acts of vandalism,’ said an officer at the scene.
‘Fires are being lit, including in cars. Thousands are arriving all over the city, and we are already extremely stretched.’
Protests were not just organised by the Yellow Vests – who are named after their high visibility motoring jackets – but by climate change protesters.
A police officer at the scene told MailOnline: ‘Fires are being lit, including in cars. Thousands are arriving all over the city, and we are already extremely stretched’
All were attempting to march on the Elysee Palace, Mr Macron’s official home, but were held back by barriers and rows of police.
Around 12 members of the Yellow Vest movement have died at blockades organised at major roads around France, while hundreds of others have been injured in rioting.
The Vests have been protesting since November 17 last year and, despite a range of concessions by President Macron including scrapping green taxes of diesel and petrol, continue to call for him to step down.
Many have been arrested, including some 700 who were held in custody on a single day in Paris last December.
High-end shops including luxury fashion boutiques were today boarded up in Paris, along with banks and post offices.
This follows major acts of vandalism, including the Arc de Triomphe itself being attacked.
A protester gestured wildly in front of a newsagent which had been set alight
Exclusive restaurant Le Fouquet, popular with politicians and celebrities was also vandalised
Mounted police, water cannons, and 14 armoured vehicles capable of spreading high-intensity gas were today all on standby as part of the security operation.
They have failed to prevent widespread disorder over the past few weekends, with the worst violence normally coming at nightfall.
The Vests have been joined by extremists from the far Right and the ultra-Left, as well as anarchists intent on causing as much damage as possible.
Crisis-ridden Mr Macron has not only climbed down on imposing green surcharges, but increased the national minimum wage by seven per sent, and scrapped tax on bonuses.
But the Yellow Vests said their protests would continue indefinitely as they campaign for even more concessions.
The independent Mr Macron, leader of the Republic On The Move party, won the French presidential election in a landslide in 2017, but he is now dubbed the ‘President of the Rich’.
Crisis-ridden Mr Macron has not only climbed down on imposing green surcharges, but increased the national minimum wage by seven per sent, and scrapped tax on bonuses
High-end shops including luxury fashion boutiques were today boarded up in Paris, along with banks and post offices. Yet that didn’t stop protesters from getting inside a Hugo Boss shop (above)