Connect with us

World News

Black-Clad Anarchists Use Cover of Yellow Vest Rally to Loot Pairs Businesses

Avatar of CTN News

Published

on

PARIS –  The Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris was a sea of black and yellow on Saturday as black-clad anarchists used a “yellow vest” rally to run amok, looting shops and torching businesses in scenes reminiscent of the riots that shook the city late last year.

Large plumes of smoke rose above Paris’ landmark Champs-Elysees avenue as French yellow vest protesters set fires, smashed up luxury stores and clashed with police Saturday in a 18th straight weekend of demonstrations against President Emmanuel Macron.

Police tried to contain the demonstrators with tear gas and water cannons. Fire trucks rushed to extinguish two burning newspaper kiosks that were set ablaze, sending black smoke high into the sky.

bb7b45e658a9628522e76c8a3b97d598b8d8ce48

Masked rioters fought pitched battles with riot police by the Arc de Triomphe during the ‘yellow vest’ protests. – Photo AP

A bank on the ground floor of a seven-storey residential building near the Champs-Elysees was also set ablaze. Firefighters had to rescue a mother and her child as the fire threatened to engulf their floor.

As demonstrators targeted symbols of the luxury industry, shops including those of the brands Hugo Boss and Lacoste were smashed up and pillaged, and mannequins thrown out of the broken windows. A posh eatery called Fouquet’s, which is associated with politicians and celebrities, was vandalized and set on fire. A vehicle burned outside luxury boutique Kenzo, one of many blazes on and around the Champs-Elysees.

945ae3d3505483ee5f7113a1e04ce708290914c2

Longchamp, the luxury handbag store on the Champs-Elysees, was another target of the masked rioters in Paris – AP

The violence started when protesters threw smoke bombs and other objects at officers along the famed avenue — scene of repeated past rioting — and started pounding on the windows of a police van. Riot police then retreated, with protesters kicking the side of the large truck.

Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said there were 7,000 to 8,000 demonstrators in Paris on Saturday of whom 1,500 were “ultra-violent ones that are there to smash things up”.

Pushing a hard line, Castaner ordered police to retaliate against these “inadmissible” acts, condemning those who “call for violence and are here to foment chaos in Paris”.

After dwindling numbers in recent weekends, protesters are hoping their latest day of action can breathe new life into their movement against a president seen as favouring the elite.

7aeb09793a5ab00d3b5eaa28a00f1f20ad938ed0

Le Fouquet’s restaurant on the Champs-Elysees, a venue associated with power and privilege, was attacked and burned. – AP

Paris police told The Associated Press that 64 people were arrested by early afternoon. Bracing for a potential uptick in protester numbers and violence, the French capital deployed more police Saturday than in previous weekends. Police closed down several streets and fanned out around the Right Bank.

Yellow vest groups representing teachers, unemployed people and labour unions were among those that organised dozens of rallies and marches Saturday in the capital and around France.

The actions mark the end of a two-month national debate that Macron organised to respond to protesters’ concerns.

Protesters dismiss the debate as empty words and a campaign ploy by Macron for European Parliament elections in May. They are angry over high taxes and Macron policies seen as coddling the business world.

“Those who participated in this great debate are mostly retirees and upper middle class, meaning Macron’s electorate, even though we understood this great national debate was supposed to respond to the yellow vest crisis,” lawyer and protester Francois Boulo told Europe-1 radio.

In their online appeal for Saturday’s protests, organisers said they wanted the day to serve as an “ultimatum” to “the government and the powerful.”

The Associated Press

Continue Reading

CTN News App

CTN News App

Recent News

BUY FC 24 COINS

compras monedas fc 24

Volunteering at Soi Dog

Find a Job

Jooble jobs

Free ibomma Movies