More than 100 arrests as riot police clash with ‘Block Everything’ protesters in Paris
Roads blocked as thousands join protests across France
- Police and protesters clashed in Paris during nationwide anti-government demonstrations organised by the 'Block Everything' group, leading to bins being set on fire and traffic disruption.
- At least 132 people were arrested in Paris, with nearly 200 arrests reported across France, as part of protests against the political class and proposed budget cuts.
- The demonstrations follow the French parliament's no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Francois Bayrou on Monday, leading President Emmanuel Macron to appoint Sebastien Lecornu as his fifth prime minister.
- Protests and traffic disruption were also reported in other major French cities, including Marseille, Montpellier, Nantes, and Lyon, with 80,000 security forces deployed nationwide.
- The protests have been compared to the 2018 'Yellow Vest' movement, reflecting long-standing public anger, and occurred amidst an investigation into severed pigs' heads found near mosques, potentially linked to foreign interference.