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Gallery|Emmanuel Macron

Paris riots: Yellow vests ‘infiltrated by violent elements’

Violence during the protests has been blamed on extreme elements on both the right and left of the spectrum.

A i`Gillet Jaunei^ demonstrator holds a flower as a symbol of a peaceful protest under the world famous i`Arc de Triopmhei^ during a demonstration on a street near the Champs ElysE`es called for by th
A protester holds a flower as a symbol of a peaceful protest under the world famous Arc de Triomphe. As a result of the violent protest, access to the Champs Elysees was blocked off by police barricades, forcing protesters to neighbouring streets. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]
By Omar Havana
Published On 2 Dec 20182 Dec 2018
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Dubbed as “Act 3”, renewed demonstrations by the “yellow vests” rocked the French capital on Saturday with about 75,000 protesters, the majority of them peaceful, taking to the streets across France, according to the interior ministry. 

People taking part in the demonstrations ransacked shops and banks, set vehicles and buildings on fire, painted graffiti on landmarks and uprooted the pavement, in neighbourhoods adjacent to the Champs Elysees, the Opera and numerous other popular tourist attractions.

Police forces launched tear gas and stun grenades, and attempted to disperse protesters with barricades and water cannons. Some 270 people have been arrested and at least 110 injured, including at least 17 police officers.

Protests by the yellow vests originally began in mid-November as a reaction to increases in fuel prices and taxes, but have since continuously expanded to a broader and ill-defined set of demands, including the resignation of French President Emmanuel Macron.

Without a clearly defined leadership, the yellow vests have mobilised people from all walks of life, unified mostly by their shared discontent with a rising cost of living, using social media to spread calls for demonstrations.

Pierre, a retiree who came to demonstrate in Paris from the western region of Bretagne, told Al Jazeera that the yellow vests movement was “a pacifist and anti-violence movement that only wanted the diesel tax to be cut out.

“Since that has been neglected by the government, now the diesel is just one reason [for demonstrating] and we will not stop until Macron resigns from his position of representing the rich people,” Pierre said.

The violence during the protests has been blamed on extreme elements on both the right and left of the spectrum, who have reportedly infiltrated the protests and are responsible for inciting violence, especially against the security forces.

Late on Saturday afternoon, some groups of violent protesters were spotted throwing anything from bottles and car parts to pieces of the pavement, at security forces from behind barricades, while beating drums and chanting “A La Guerre!” (To War!)

Sophie, from Paris, said she came to peacefully protest but extreme right groups infiltrated the movement.

“[They] started the violence and have taken away the importance of why the movement is demonstrating, creating an idea, not only in France but in the world, about the gilets jaunes (yellow vests) that is not true. We are not violent but normal people who want a better life,” she said. 

A group of protesters knee in from of police forces moments before of being hit by a water cannon during a demonstration near the Champs ElysE`es called for by the i`Gilets Jaunesi^ movement on Decemb
'The French people are crazy but not stupid. We know our rights and we know how to make ourselves be heard if the politicians don't want to listen to us. We have always done that and we will always do that. It is time for the people to set the rules and not for the politicians to rule us,' said Gilbert, one of the protesters. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]
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A demonstrator throws back a tear gas canister shot by police forces to disperse demonstrators during a protest on the adjacent streets to the Champs ElysE`es called for by the i`Gilets Jaunesi^ movem
A demonstrator throws back a tear gas canister shot by police forces to disperse the crowd. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]
A banner demanding the resigning of President Macron is seen during a protest near the Champs ElysE`es called for by the i`Gilets Jaunesi^ movement on December 01, 2018 in Paris, France. Protesters sp
A banner demanding the resignation of President Macron. Protesters spray-painted anti-Macron slogans on buildings and landmarks, including the famed Arc de Triomphe. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]
A protester walks in front of a group of police forces on a street adjacent to the Champs ElysE`es during a protest called by the i`Gilets Jaunesi´ on December 01, 2018 in Paris, France. Photo by Oma
A protester walks past police forces on a street adjacent to the Champs Elysees. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]
A police officer is seen behind riot gear on which protesters have thrown paint while gathering to control the situation during a protest on the adjacent streets to the Champs ElysE`es called for by t
Interior Minister Castaner attributed the violence to 'specialists in sowing conflict, specialists in destruction.' [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]
A protester holding a French flag and dressed as Santa Claus shouts slogans to police forces during a demonstration near the Champs ElysE`es called for by the i`Gilets Jaunesi^ movement on December 01
Macron said he would convene a meeting on the situation with the prime minister and the interior minister on Sunday morning in Paris. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]
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Protesters start to set up a barricade using items found on the streets during a demonstration near the Champs ElysE`es called for by the i`Gilets Jaunesi^ movement on December 01, 2018 in Paris, Fran
Authorities said that 110 people were injured, including 17 policemen. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]
A group of protesters run after police force shot tear gas towards them during a protest on the adjacent streets to the Champs ElysE`es called for by the i`Gilets Jaunesi^ movement on December 01, 20
Protesters run after police fired tear gas. Attempts by the government to negotiate with the grassroots movement have failed. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]
Several fires are seen on a street near the Champs ElysE`es during a protest organized by the i`Gilets Jaunesi^ movement on December 01, 2018 in Paris, France. Photo by Omar Havana
Nearly 190 fires were put out during the protests, the interior ministry has said. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]
A protester faces a group of police forces gathered to disperse demonstrations from a street near the Champs ElysE`es on December 01, 2018 in Paris, France. Photo by Omar Havana
A protester approaches riot police gathered to disperse the demonstration. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]
Protesters start to set up a barricade using items found on the streets during a demonstration near the Champs ElysE`es called for by the i`Gilets Jaunesi^ movement on December 01, 2018 in Paris, Fran
Six buildings were set ablaze by protesters. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]
A yellow vest protester is being arrested by police officers during clashes between police forces and violent groups on December 01, 2018 in Paris, France. Some 270 people have been arrested and at le
At least 287 people were arrested during the protests. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]
Extremist elements vandalized several banks during the protests organised by the "Gillet Jaunes" movement, breaking into branches and destroying ATM machines and furniture on December 01, 2018 in Pari
Protesters vandalised several banks during the protests organised by the 'yellow vests' movement. They broke into the buildings and destroyed furniture and ATM machines. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]
Members of the fire department put out a fire set up on fire by extremists vandals infiltrated during a protest called for by the i`Gilets Jaunesi^ movement December 01, 2018 in Paris, France. Photo
Several luxury clothing and jewelry stores in streets near the Champs Elysees and Boulevard Haussmann were also broken into, destroyed and vandalised. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]


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