PARIS BURNS Paris on lockdown as 1,000 protesters arrested and 135 injured during riots in ‘Day of rage’ across France

Police run past a burning car as they push protesters back during the 'yellow vests' demonstration near the Arc de Triomphe

There were an estimated 10,000 yellow vest protesters in Paris alone, among some 125,000 protesters around the country.

PARIS is on lockdown as 1,000 protesters are arrested and 135 are injured during riots in 'Day of rage' across France.

Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said the violence in Paris was"under control" by 6pm local time, despite scattered tensions.

Police guard a side street during the 'yellow vests' demonstration on the Champs-Elysées

He described the clashes as "totally unacceptable", and said 135 people were injured on Saturday, including 17 police officers.

Protesters march in the 'yellow vests' demonstration near the Arc de Triomphe

"Exceptional" security measures allowed police to put nearly 1,000 people in custody.Casataner  estimated there were 10,000 yellow vest protesters in Paris alone, among some 125,000 protesters around the country.

Smoke of tear gas is seen as protestors, including some wearing a yellow vest (gilet jaune), gather on Place de la Republique

Protesters smashed store windows, set fires around Paris, and clashed with police, who fired tear gas throughout the day in the French capital.

The Place de la Republique as protesters wearing yellow vests gather during a national day of protest

Earlier in the day "Yellow vest" demonstrators squared up to thousands of cops on the Champs Eylsees boulevard.

A car is overturned by protesters who have been clashing with cops today

Dozens of French riot police backed by an armoured vehicle charged the protesters, firing tear gas beneath the sparkling lights of one of the world's most elegant avenues.

A large crowd of protesters are pushed back with water canons

Demonstrators in yellow vests carried a huge banner calling for President Emmanuel Macron to resign and for France to hold an emergency election.Protesters appeared to throw flares as police responded with tear gas.


The confrontation came after a day of tension across Paris on Saturday and unprecedented police efforts to prevent new violence.

Major tourist attractions have been shut down including the Eiffel Tower as 90,000 riot cops try and tackle today's ferocious battle for the streets.

Dramatic pictures show French cops hurling tear gas canisters and wielding water cannons as they try to calm groups angry at the high cost of living under President Emmanuel Macron, and a proposed fuel price rise.

Protesters chanted "Macron Resign" and "Police Everywhere – Justice Nowhere" as they were joined by extremists from the far Right and the ultra-Left.

The violence has spilled from France into Belgium and the Netherlands today, as around 700 people have been detained across Europe.

Reports say 100 have been pulled from protests in Brussels for carrying fireworks or protective clothing, while in Amsterdam two people were taken in by police.

In the French capital fires have been lit, cars turned over and shop windows smashed, while police arrested just over 600 people in Paris by 2pm.

Potential weapons including gas cannisters, flash ball guns, baseball bats, and petanque balls have been confiscated on the so-called "Act 4" day of action.

A police source said: "477 have been placed under formal investigation, out of a total of more than 600 arrests."

The Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Musee d'Orsay and the Centre Pompidou have been forced to shut as the violence continues.
Cops said there are around 1,500 protesters on the Champs Elysees boulevard alone. The Yellow Vests said their protests would continue indefinitely as they campaign for even more tax reductions.

There have been calls for a State of Emergency to be announced, and for the Army to take to the streets.

The current spate of Paris violence  is considered the worst since the Spring of 1968, when President Charles de Gaulle’s government feared a full-blown revolution.

Police are using snatch squads to seize troublemakers and are more mobile around the city, BBC reports.

Authorities in the capital are taking these steps to avoid a repeat of last Saturday's chaos when rioters torched cars on the Champs Elysees boulevard and defaced the Arc de Triomphe monument with graffiti.