Protester loses hand in unrest

A “yellow vest” demonstrator lost a hand during clashes with police outside the main parliament building in Paris on Saturday, witnesses said.

This incident happened in the 13th weekend of anti-government protests across France.

Despite a drop in numbers from the massive turnouts of the first demonstrations in November, tens of thousands still turned out in cities across the country to protest against French President Emmanuel Macron’s policies.

Clashes broke out outside the National Assembly building in Paris after a march from the Champs-Elysees avenue arrived there.

Some masked activists tried to break down barriers outside the parliament, while others urinated nearby.

Masked men threw projectiles at police, who responded with teargas and stun grenades.

Vandals burned rubbish bins as well as cars – mainly luxury models – destroying bus shelters, cash machines and shop windows.

Interior Minister Christophe Castaner expressed his “indignation and disgust” in a tweet.

A man was being held for questioning over the blaze, Paris prosecutors said.

Volunteer medics at the National Assembly confirmed that a man had had his hand ripped off during the clashes between police and protesters.

One witness who filmed the incident, 21-year-old Cyprien Royer, said the victim was a yellow jacket photographer who had been taking pictures of people trying to break down the barriers which were protecting the entrance to the National Assembly.

He said he had been hit in the calf by a type of stun grenade as the police attempted to disperse people.

“He wanted to bat it away so it didn’t explode by his leg -and it went off when he touched it,” he said.

Paris police said the man had lost four fingers.

Officers had arrested 39 people and 21 were being held in custody, they added on Saturday night. – AFP