Paris protests: Police deploy water cannon as gilets jaunes activists burn trees in French capital
Seventeen police officers among 135 injured during unrest across France
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Your support makes all the difference.More than 1,000 people were arrested across France as security forces deployed tear gas and water cannon to tackle anti-government protests.
Rioters hurled missiles, torched cars and trees and vandalised shops and restaurants as the ‘gilets jaunes’ staged their fourth weekend of demonstrations.
The violence also spread to Amsterdam and Brussels, where a crowd attempted to reach the European Union headquarters and other official buildings.
In Paris an estimated 10,000 people marched up a Champs-Elysees decked out in pink Christmas lights and police charged protesters on horseback. A total of 620 people were arrested in the French capital alone.
Rioting also broke out in Marseilles, Bordeaux, Lyon and Toulouse, although the nationwide demonstrations were generally much more peaceful than a week ago.
As darkness fell, interior minister Christophe Castaner announced that the violence was “under control” but condemned it as “totally unacceptable”.
He said 135 people, including 17 police officers, were injured across the country and vowed that the security forces would remain vigilant overnight as there were reports of groups of youths looting shops.
The “yellow vests” movement – a reference to the fluorescent safety outfit French motorists keep in their cars – began on 17 November as a backlash to a rise in fuel taxes.
They have since come to encompass general anger and disillusionment with President Emmanuel Macron’s government and high living costs. Four people have died during the protests so far.
Amid warnings that far-right, anarchist and anti-capitalist groups would try to hijack the demonstrations, nearly 90,000 police and other security personnel were deployed across the country from 4am on Saturday.
Shops, restaurants and cafes were boarded up and shuttered while tourist destinations such as The Louvre, Eiffel Tower and the Paris Opera were also closed.
Donald Trump reacted to reports of rioting in the French capital by suggesting that the unrest could be blamed on the 2015 Paris climate change agreement. He also claimed that protesters were shouting “We want Trump”.
If you want to read how events unfolded, read our live coverage below.
The ‘gilet jaunes’ are now walking away from the direction of the Champs Elysées after being confronted by a police barricade. Most are young men. The atmosphere is tense
Yellow vested protesters in Brussels are calling on Belgian prime minister Charles Michel to resign.
The gilets jaunes movement has crossed over from neighbouring France as hundreds of marchers try to enter the European quarter in Brussels.
Local police have warned residents to stay away from the area.
Jean-Loup, a psychologist, says he’s joining the protests because “the poor are living in misery while the rich are getting richer”. He then adds: “It’s the same in the UK, no? I think you will see a similar thing there soon” https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dt5P-E2WwAA0izJ.jpg
Some demonstrators temporarily blocked the ring road which circles central Paris.
Large groups of people are now heading to the eastern part of the capital, where a march against climate change has been scheduled for this afternoon.
All the shops and restaurants are boarded up. There isn’t a tourist in sight. The protesters appear to have well and truly taken over Paris today #giletsjaunes
US President Donald Trump has tweeted about the yellow vest protests, writing that "the Paris Agreement isn’t working out so well for Paris".
Paris police are firing water cannons on protesters who are throwing flares and setting fires in one of the city's main shopping districts.
The latest flashpoint is near the Palais Garnier opera house.
Protesters have also uprooted trees in the neighbourhood and set them on fire, while others hurled projectiles at rows of riot police.
US President Donald Trump has blamed protests in France on the Paris climate agreement.
The "yellow vest" protests were initially triggered by fuel tax rises.
A large group of police officers just came out from that same place all holding up riot shields. Protesters really don’t like the police and they are making that clear
Protesters in Belgium are throwing paving stones, fireworks, flares and other objects at police.
Belgian police officers have responded by firing tear gas and water cannons at the demonstrators.
Groups of activists also smashed street signs and traffic lights near a police barricade blocking access to the office of Belgian prime minister Charles Michel, as they chanted slogans calling on him to resign
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