Now Europe burns
Rioters torch cars and steal police rif le as Paris protests reach other French cities – and even Holland
THE centre of Paris was a warzone last night as hundreds of ‘yellow vest’ protesters clashed with riot squads and set fire to cars and Christmas trees along the ChampsElysées.
As the violent protests spread to other cities including Toulouse and Marseille as well as the Netherlands, officers fired tear gas and stun grenades at hooded demonstrators, some of who stole an assault rifle from police. At least 92 people were injured.
‘Extremist groups have already joined in’
Last night, French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the demonstrations, sparked by a rise in fuel price which have threatened to derail his presidency.
‘I will never accept this violence,’ he said from the G20 summit in Buenos Aires. ‘No cause justifies that security forces are attacked, shops pillaged, public or private buildings set on fire, pedestrians or journalists threatened or that the Arc de Triomphe is sullied.’
As fears grew that violent farright and far-left groups had infiltrated the demonstration which drew more than 5,000 on to the streets, police made more than 200 arrests and closed 29 Paris metro stations.
Chilling images showed individual officers being beaten by masked attackers, as other officers were drenched in yellow paint. At least a dozen cars were also set on fire.
Gregory Joron, of the SGP police union said: ‘It is people’s right to demonstrate, but extremist groups have already joined in. Groups intent on trouble are appearing from all directions. They include those from the extreme right and the ultra-Left.’
Sixteen identity check points and police barricades have been set up on the Champs Elysées for the first time in its history in an attempt to avoid rioting on the most famous avenue in France.
‘There will be identity checks and bag searches for all pedestrians,’ said Christophe Castener, France’s Interior Minister, adding that cars would be banned.
‘Yellow vest’ protests were held in other cities across France. In the Netherlands, around 100 demonstrators gathered outside the parliamentary complex in The Hague.
The Yellow Vests – named after the reflective jackets they wear – have called for an end to escalating petrol and diesel prices.
Mr Macron has insisted that fuel prices have to rise in line with green initiatives made necessary by the Paris Climate Change agreement. He said his government would not back down in the face of disturbances.