In Pictures

Paris protests: Scenes of destruction on Champs Elysées

Damage at Arc de Triomphe has forced authorities to close the monument while it is being repaired.

Members of the French Police protect access to the world famous Arc du Triomphe, closed to the public after being vandalized during last Saturdayi´s protest on December 03, 2018 in Paris, France. The — French Police guards the access to the world famous Arc de Triomphe, closed to the public after being vandalised during last Saturday's protest. Protesters smashed a statue of Marianne, the symbol of the French Republic, on display at the entrance, broke displays in the interior of the monument, and graffitied slogans on its walls. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]

Paris, France – Two days after a violent protest that rocked Paris into chaos, scenes of destruction are still present in the streets adjacent to the famous Champs Elysees.

The riots started during protests against government plans to increase taxes on fuel, but the demonstrations later morphed into a movement that rallied against a whole range of government measures.

Workers were doing their best to bring the area of downtown Paris back to normal life after more than 240 fires were set on Saturday, including six buildings and more than a 100 cars. But there was still much work to be done; it is impossible for anyone visiting the impacted neighbourhoods not to witness what happened. Graffiti with slogans against French President Emmanuel Macron are mixed with the Christmas decorations on what is considered to be one of the most beautiful avenues in the world.

The damage at the Arc de Triomphe, visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists each year, has forced authorities to close the monument while it is being repaired, making those who visit Paris to make do with just a selfie in front of the arc while police forces protect its entrance.

“I came here two days ago to visit the city, which was one of my dreams. I was really scared when I arrived and today I feel sad when I see all the destruction in the area and that I cannot visit the Arc. But Paris is still Paris, for me, it is the most beautiful city in the world,” said Li, a Chinese tourist who came with his family to visit Paris for the first time.

While the cost of the damage is still to be determined, business owners are discouraged by the new wave of violence that has shaken the area and what the next protests, already being announced, could bring.

“I have lost several thousand Euros during last Saturday. My windows are smashed, and all the exterior is filled with graffiti,” said a shop owner who prefered to keep her identity hidden for fear of retribution. “I support the fight of the ‘yellow vests’, but I cannot understand this reaction to our business. I am just a worker who invested a lot of money and if this continues I am afraid I will lose everything,” she concluded.

Paris breathes an air of revolution these days. On Monday, more than 100 ambulances occupied Place de La Concorde, demanding a suspension in sanitary transport reforms which, according to them, would threaten small and medium companies in the sector. At the same time, students from over one 100 high schools also protested, in support of the “yellow vests” and in protest of educational reforms.

More protests are announced for this week. “Act 4” of the “yellow vests” has already been announced on social media for Saturday, and if nothing changes, many fear that it will bring an even more violent participation by the hardline groups who are taking over the protests in Paris.

“I don’t understand why they are destroying small businesses. I support them and I am one of them, but I do not support them impacting normal people’s lives. If they want destruction, they can do it to the five stars hotels, to the luxury shops, even to the Elysée, they have the money, and they are responsible for all that is happening, not us. We, the French, know how to protest, and this is just the beginning of a revolution that will change this country forever. I cannot wait for Saturday to come,” said Jean, a passer-by.

A man passes in front of a closed building vandalized by extremists groups during last Saturdayi´s i`Gilets Jaunesi^ protests on December 03, 2018 in Paris, France. The Arc du Triomphe was vandalized — A man passes in front of a closed building vandalised during the protests. [Omar Havana/Al jazeera]

View of a building where the fence was taken down by extremists groups during last Saturdayi´s protests on December 03, 2018 in Paris, France. The Arc du Triomphe was vandalized during Saturday''s prot — The cost of the damage left behind the protests is still to be determined. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]

Glass debris is seen on the ground around a newspaper kiosk destroyed by protesters during last Saturdayi´s protests on December 03, 2018 in Paris, France. While the final cost of the destruction is s — Newspaper kiosk destroyed by protesters. Business owners are discouraged by the new wave of violence. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]

A group of young women walks in front of a restaurant that was burned during last Saturdayi´s protests on December 03, 2018 in Paris, France. While the final cost of the destruction is still to be det — People walk in front of a restaurant that was burned during the protests. 249 fires were extinguished by the fire department, including 6 buildings and 112 cars. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]

A man passes in front of the brasserie and cocktail bar i`La Belle ArmE`ei^ that was vandalized by extremists groups during last Saturdayi´s protests on December 03, 2018 in Paris, France. French Mini — A brasserie and cocktail bar vandalised during protests. French Minister of Economy Bruno Le Maire has estimated the loss in business since the beginning of the protests to between 15 percent and 25 percent depending on the sector. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]

A smashed front window of a Ducati store is seen on a street near the Champs ElysE`es on December 03, 2018 in Paris, France. French Ministry of Economy Bruno Le Maire has estimated the loss in busines — A smashed front window of a Ducati store on a street near the Champs Elysees. Hotel reservations have decreased from between 20 to 50 percent, while retail has lost between 20 percent and 40 percent. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]

A man begs for money in front of a building where messages calling for revolution were written during last Saturdayi´s protests on December 03, 2018 in Paris, France. After the violent clashes of last — A man begs for money in front of a building where messages calling for revolution were written during protests. 'Yellow vests' have announced on social media new protests for this coming Saturday under the name of 'Act 4: Insurrection'. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]

A burnt motorbike is seen left on a street where a graffiti using the name of the last Saturdayi´s protests i`Act 3i^ was written on December 03, 2018 in Paris, France. While the final cost of the des — A burned motorbike left on a street. 378 people, including 33 minors, were arrested at the protests. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]

Workers clean the destroyed pavement of a street where police forces clashed heavily with extremists groups during last Saturdayi´s protests near the Champs ElysE`es on December 03, 2018 in Paris, Fra — Workers clean the destroyed pavement of a street where police forces clashed heavily with protesters, near the Champs Elysees. Protesters broke the pavement to be thrown at police forces during clashes that resulted in 133 people injured in Paris. [Omar Havana/Al jazeera]

The trunk of a car is seen melted on a street where a diplomatic car was set on fire during last Saturdayi´s protests near the Champs ElysE`es on December 03, 2018 in Paris, France. While the final co — The trunk of a car melted on a street where a diplomatic car was set on fire. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]

A vandalized car is seen parked on a street near the Champs ElysE`es where protesters and police forces clashed during last Saturdayi´s protests on December 03, 2018 in Paris, France. While the final — A vandalised car parked on a street near the Champs Elysees where protesters and police forces clashed. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]

A woman reads the announcement taped to the entrance of a HSBC branch saying that their ATMs are out of service after the branch was vandalized by protesters during last Saturdayi´s demonstration on D — A woman reads the announcement taped to the entrance of an HSBC branch saying that their ATMs are out of service after the branch was vandalised by protesters. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]

A woman walks by a BNP Paribas branch where messages against French President Macron were written during last Saturdayi´s protests on December 03, 2018 in Paris, France. After the violent protest of l — Prime Minister Edouard Philippe will suspend the fuel tax increases in bid to end the violent 'yellow vest' protests. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]