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Yellow vest protests: Dozens of arrests in Paris Paris climate march halted amid clashes between activists and police
(about 7 hours later)
Dozens of demonstrators have been arrested in Paris following a resurgence of the yellow vest protests that started last year. A proposed peaceful climate march in Paris has been halted after it was infiltrated by other protest groups.
Several hundred protesters gathered at different points in the French capital and over 39 were swiftly arrested. Groups of yellow vest demonstrators joined in, breaking windows and setting fire to street barricades in a resurgence of protests against the French government.
A huge security operation was planned amid fears the protesters would clash with a climate change march. Families abandoned the march as violent clashes prompted police to fire tear gas and make over 100 arrests.
The majority of demonstrators did not wear the trademark hi-vis jackets to avoid being visible. A huge security operation involved 7,000 police officers.
Police, who have previously been accused of heavy-handedness, used tear gas to disperse groups of protesters. The climate change march and a protest against pension reform were both authorised, while the yellow vest demonstrations went ahead illegally.
The gilets jaunes (yellow vest) movement started last November over increased fuel prices, evolving into weekly protests that continued well into the spring. Several hundred so-called "black bloc" protesters, who covered their faces with black scarves, sunglasses and hoods, gathered at different points in the French capital.
They accused President Emmanuel Macron of being out of touch and often turned violent. The majority of yellow vest demonstrators did not wear the trademark fluorescent jackets to avoid being visible.
As the violence worsened, police, who have previously been accused of heavy-handedness, used tear gas to disperse groups of protesters.
A video posted on Twitter shows climate change protesters covering their mouths as tear gas from further afield was carried to them by the wind.
At some points, the two protests appeared to converge with a giant banner reading "Macron: Polluter of the earth".
Footage shows two chants being sung at the same time, which translate into English as: "Macron, we are here" and "We are hotter than the climate".
Greenpeace told climate change protesters to abandon the march as conditions were not appropriate for a non-violent protest.
The gilets jaunes (yellow vest) movement started last November over increased fuel prices, evolving into weekly protests that continued well into the spring and often turned violent.
They accused President Emmanuel Macron of being out of touch.
The protests prompted Mr Macron to introduce reforms including tax cuts and a more decentralised government.The protests prompted Mr Macron to introduce reforms including tax cuts and a more decentralised government.
One of Saturday's protesters told French media outlet Le Monde that they continued to protest because of "injustice" but said they were worried about the "bad image" of the yellow vests.One of Saturday's protesters told French media outlet Le Monde that they continued to protest because of "injustice" but said they were worried about the "bad image" of the yellow vests.
"I am not a thug," they insisted. "I am not a thug," the protester insisted.
Saturday's protests interfered with France's annual Heritage Day, when well-known sites open their doors to the public.Saturday's protests interfered with France's annual Heritage Day, when well-known sites open their doors to the public.
On Friday, President Macron said it was good that that people could express themselves but asked that the protests proceeded in a "calm" manner.On Friday, President Macron said it was good that that people could express themselves but asked that the protests proceeded in a "calm" manner.
He has not yet commented on Saturday's events.
All pictures copyright.