Categories: News

‘Yellow vests’ protesters go wild in Paris

Paris police detained nearly 300 people Saturday ahead of fresh anti-government “yellow vest” protests which authorities fear could turn violent for a third weekend in a row.

Clad in their luminous road safety jackets, dozens of demonstrators — who accuse President Emmanuel Macron of only looking out for the rich — gathered at dawn on the Champs-Elysees, the scene last Saturday of the worst rioting in Paris for decades.

“We had to come to Paris to be heard,” said protester Herve Benoit, arriving with three friends from the Dordogne in western France.

He called on the government to boost people’s spending power and increase taxes on the wealthiest.

By 8.40 am (0740 GMT) police had already detained 278 people.

Some 8,000 police were deployed, carrying out checks on people arriving at train stations and at protest hotspots such as the Champs-Elysees and Bastille monument.

A source close to the operation told AFP that at least 34 people were arrested for carrying masks, hammers, slingshots and rocks that could be used to attack police.

Shops, museums, the Eiffel Tower and many metro stations were closed as much of the city-centre went on effective lockdown. Top-flight football matches and concerts were cancelled.

Last weekend’s violence, which saw some 200 cars torched and the Arc de Triomphe vandalised, shook France and plunged Macron’s government into its deepest crisis so far.

Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said he expected “only a few thousand people” to descend on Paris after the 8,000 protesters counted last weekend, “but among them are ultraviolent individuals”.

“These past three weeks have produced a monster that its creators no longer control,” Castaner said, vowing “zero tolerance” towards those aiming to wreak further destruction.

After the meeting a spokesman from the movement, Christophe Chalencon, said Philippe had “listened to us and promised to take our demands to the president”.

Recent Posts

Father, Son, Hack Mother Of Four To Death During Fight

A father, identified as Philip Ayo alongside his son on Saturday, hacked a mother of…

12 hours ago

Omoluabi Progressives: Aregbesola Urges Members To Key Into Caucus Vision

 As Caucus Holds Monthly Stakeholders Meeting The immediate-past Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has…

13 hours ago

‘Ipade Imole’, A Jamboree, Waste Of Osun Resources – NNPP Knocks Adeleke

New Nigeria Peoples Party has described an interactive session with Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke,…

14 hours ago

2024 UTME Results Available Only Through USSD – JAMB

The Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB), has said  the only way to check the…

15 hours ago

Nigerian Nail Painter Set To Break Guinness World Record

A Nigerian painter, Lisha Seleme Dachor, has set out to break Guinness World Record for…

15 hours ago

Police Arrest Phone Thief For Allegedly Stabbing Salesgirl In Yobe

A 22 year-old-man, Sani Musa, popularly known as Regis Oga Soja has been arrested by…

15 hours ago

This website uses cookies.