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| Battlefield Paris: Police hit protesters with tear gas as massive fuel rallies grip France (VIDEO) | Battlefield Paris: Police hit protesters with tear gas as massive fuel rallies grip France (VIDEO) |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Police unleashed tear gas and a water cannon at bottle and projectile throwing protesters in Paris. Eight people were reportedly arrested as the ‘Yellow Vest’ rally against fuel price hikes almost had the city center on lockdown. | Police unleashed tear gas and a water cannon at bottle and projectile throwing protesters in Paris. Eight people were reportedly arrested as the ‘Yellow Vest’ rally against fuel price hikes almost had the city center on lockdown. |
| The tense standoff between riot police and demonstrators – some of them masked – escalated as law enforcement were pelted with bottles. Police fired back with tear gas and water cannon spay.Some 3,000 police officers were deployed to the streets of the French capital, where around 8,000 protesters joined the ‘Yellow Vests’ rallies. | |
| At one point some streets in the city center resembled a battlefield, covered with what remained of the barricades, which were set up from fences and trash bins. Even the Arc de Triomphe was barely visible due to the thick smoke. Possible smoke grenades were also used as people walked past the smoking projectiles. | At one point some streets in the city center resembled a battlefield, covered with what remained of the barricades, which were set up from fences and trash bins. Even the Arc de Triomphe was barely visible due to the thick smoke. Possible smoke grenades were also used as people walked past the smoking projectiles. |
| A flipped vehicle was set ablaze at Champs Elysee, with police bringing in a water cannon to extinguish the fire. A nearby café’s outdoor tent was also seen in flames but it is unclear how the fire started. | A flipped vehicle was set ablaze at Champs Elysee, with police bringing in a water cannon to extinguish the fire. A nearby café’s outdoor tent was also seen in flames but it is unclear how the fire started. |
| RT’s correspondent Charlotte Dubenskij has been caught in the midst of the rally as she was giving updates on the demonstration. | RT’s correspondent Charlotte Dubenskij has been caught in the midst of the rally as she was giving updates on the demonstration. |
| Paris was not the only French city gripped by the protests on Saturday. Some 1,619 rallies attended by about 106,300 people were held across France, according to the Interior Ministry. | |
| Footage from the scene also showed one of the protesters being dragged away by police in riot gear. At least 42 protesters were arrested in Paris throughout the day, Le Figaro reported citing Interior Minister Christophe Castaner. In total, 130 protesters were detained across France, according to the minister. | |
| Apart from putting the city center almost on lockdown, the chaos spilled into the subway and disrupted traffic there as several stations were closed after “malicious acts.” | Apart from putting the city center almost on lockdown, the chaos spilled into the subway and disrupted traffic there as several stations were closed after “malicious acts.” |
| One of the videos from the unrest shows demonstrators chanting behind the improvised barricades before being forced to retreat as they were smashed by thick sprays from the water cannon. | One of the videos from the unrest shows demonstrators chanting behind the improvised barricades before being forced to retreat as they were smashed by thick sprays from the water cannon. |
| “I have come to express my discontent,” an elderly protester told RT France, adding that, as a pensioner, he does not have enough money to by Christmas presents for his grandchildren because of the “too high taxes” already. He also complained that the authorities responded to protests with “violence” and “gas”, provoking “hatred” that people did not feel before. | |
| Another protester said that the people are angry and added that “the easiest way to resolve this conflict” is through a confidence vote in the form of a referendum. “Do the people want them [the government of President Emmanuel Macron] to stay or go?” the man asked rhetorically. | |
| Saturday marks the second week in a row that protests have been held in the French capital and across the country. At least 19 people, including four police officers were injured as a result of unrest this time. | |
| The unease has been spurred on by rising fuel prices and a planned fuel tax. The ‘Yellow Vest’ movement, as it’s called, is protesting the measure which is due to be in place from January 1, 2019. The government claims the move is aimed at promoting environmentally friendly practices. However, that has been met with a fierce response from the public. | The unease has been spurred on by rising fuel prices and a planned fuel tax. The ‘Yellow Vest’ movement, as it’s called, is protesting the measure which is due to be in place from January 1, 2019. The government claims the move is aimed at promoting environmentally friendly practices. However, that has been met with a fierce response from the public. |
| Chaotic scenes emerged during similar rallies last weekend, with one marred by a death. A woman tragically died during a demonstration in the southeastern region of Savoie as a panicked driver hit her after protesters surrounded the vehicle and began kicking at it. The driver then accelerated and knocked the woman down. Around 200 people were injured during the protests and over 100 were arrested. | Chaotic scenes emerged during similar rallies last weekend, with one marred by a death. A woman tragically died during a demonstration in the southeastern region of Savoie as a panicked driver hit her after protesters surrounded the vehicle and began kicking at it. The driver then accelerated and knocked the woman down. Around 200 people were injured during the protests and over 100 were arrested. |
| French President Emmanuel Macron’s policies, including his handling of the economic situation have already triggered multiple protests in France. The French leader also faced plummeting approval ratings amid social discontent with his reforms, such as tax relief for businesses while he plans to cut pensioner benefits. | French President Emmanuel Macron’s policies, including his handling of the economic situation have already triggered multiple protests in France. The French leader also faced plummeting approval ratings amid social discontent with his reforms, such as tax relief for businesses while he plans to cut pensioner benefits. |
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