Paris protests: Police deploy water cannon as gilets jaunes activists burn trees in French capital

Seventeen police officers among 135 injured during unrest across France

Police deploy water cannons and rubber bullets as gilets jaunes activists burn cars in French capital

More than 1,000 people were arrested across France as security forces deployed tear gas and water cannon to tackle anti-government protests.

Rioters hurled missiles, torched cars and trees and vandalised shops and restaurants as the ‘gilets jaunes’ staged their fourth weekend of demonstrations.

The violence also spread to Amsterdam and Brussels, where a crowd attempted to reach the European Union headquarters and other official buildings.

In Paris an estimated 10,000 people marched up a Champs-Elysees decked out in pink Christmas lights and police charged protesters on horseback. A total of 620 people were arrested in the French capital alone.

Rioting also broke out in Marseilles, Bordeaux, Lyon and Toulouse, although the nationwide demonstrations were generally much more peaceful than a week ago.

As darkness fell, interior minister ​Christophe Castaner announced that the violence was “under control” but condemned it as “totally unacceptable”.

He said 135 people, including 17 police officers, were injured across the country and vowed that the security forces would remain vigilant overnight as there were reports of groups of youths looting shops.

The “yellow vests” movement – a reference to the fluorescent safety outfit French motorists keep in their cars – began on 17 November as a backlash to a rise in fuel taxes.

They have since come to encompass general anger and disillusionment with President Emmanuel Macron’s government and high living costs. Four people have died during the protests so far.

Amid warnings that far-right, anarchist and anti-capitalist groups would try to hijack the demonstrations, nearly 90,000 police and other security personnel were deployed across the country from 4am on Saturday.

Shops, restaurants and cafes were boarded up and shuttered while tourist destinations such as The Louvre, Eiffel Tower and the Paris Opera were also closed.

Donald Trump reacted to reports of rioting in the French capital by suggesting that the unrest could be blamed on the 2015 Paris climate change agreement. He also claimed that protesters were shouting “We want Trump”.

If you want to read how events unfolded, read our live coverage below.

Key Points

• Seventeen police officers among 135 people hurt in Paris
• Police have fired tear gas at protesters in the French capital
• Water cannon deployed as demonstrators set trees on fire 
• May Bulman reports from Paris
• Protests spread to Belgium and the Netherlands

[8 December 2018 16:17 · Zamira Rahim]

Officials in London are bracing for violence on Sunday, as people look to the yellow vest protests for inspiration: 

[8 December 2018 16:28 · May Bulman]

This stand-off between police and protestors on the lit up Champs Elysées is quite surreal #giletsjaunes

[8 December 2018 16:40 · Zamira Rahim]

Protesters in Paris have set cars, garbage bins and wooden shutters on fire

[8 December 2018 16:58 · Peter Stubley]

Further reports of riot police charging protesters and firing tear gas on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, which is decked in Christmas lights.

Several cars have been set on fire or damaged.

[8 December 2018 17:06 · Peter Stubley]

More than 400 people have been arrested in Brussels by Belgian police during protests inspired by the "gilets jaunes" demonstrations in France.

Protesters threw rocks and firecrackers and damaged shops and cars as they tried to reach official buildings in Brussels, according to Reuters news agency.

Police used water cannon and tear gas to keep people away from the European Union headquarters and the nearby Belgian government quarter. Calm was restored after about five hours.

[8 December 2018 17:41 · Peter Stubley]

Donald Trump has again tweeted to suggest that the Paris climate change agreement is somehow responsible for the violent protests in France. He suggests that scrapping it would allow taxes to be lowered. 

[8 December 2018 18:05 · Peter Stubley]

Among the crowds in Paris this afternoon was actress Uma Thurman, who posted this photo on Instagram.

[8 December 2018 18:14 · Peter Stubley]

  ↵Meanwhile in the Polish city of Katowice, thousands joined a "March for Climate" to demand tougher actions against global warming.

Protesters dressed as orangutans and polar bears and wore breathing masks to highlight the problem of air pollution.

Katowice is hosting this year's UN climate change conference, where delegates from nearly 200 countries are discussing the 2015 Paris agreement. 

Three people were detained after a small scuffle with police, according to a city spokeswoman, but the march was generally peaceful.

[8 December 2018 19:06 · Peter Stubley]

French officials say 135 people have been injured in today's protests, including 17 police officers.

Nearly 1,000 people have been arrested and taken into custody, according to interior minister Christophe Castaner.

The violence in Paris is "under control" but "totally unacceptable", he added.

Mr Casataner estimated there were 10,000 yellow vest protesters in Paris and a total of around 125,000 across France.

[8 December 2018 19:44 · Peter Stubley]

French police, who have been on duty since 4am, say they are evacuating the last demonstrators from Paris, adding "Thank you for making it easier to return to normal."