British tourists were caught up in violence on the Champs Elysee yesterday, when a huge crowd gathered to call for President Emmanuel Macron to quit
BRITISH tourists were caught up in mob violence yesterday, as protesters filled the streets of Paris and clashed with police during marches against rising fuel prices.
Water cannons and rounds of teargas were used by riot cops against thousands of French "Yellow Vest" fuel protesters today as the Champs Elysee was reduced to a battlefield.
The worst violence took place on the most famous avenue in the city where a huge crowd called for President Emmanuel Macron to resign.
The unrest has erupted over spiking fuel prices in the country and is pilling pressure on the government.
A police officer at the scene said: "They included hooded demonstrators who were determined to cause trouble.
"We’ve been forced to deploy a water cannon and use tear gas to stop them getting to a secure zone.
"They’re breaking up traffic obstacles to create missiles to throw at us. It’s getting very violent."
The zone included the Elysee Palace – Mr Macron’s official home – and the Place de la Concorde, opposite the National Assembly, France’s parliament.
The Yellow Vests – gilets jaunes in French – are named after the high visibility jackets they wear.
They have been conducting a grassroots campaign against escalating petrol and diesel prices.
Senior French ministers have slammed the ‘radicalisation’ and ‘anarchy’ involved, claiming far-Right and hard-Left elements have hijacked the protests.
Two road deaths have been linked with the protests so far – both at illegal road blocks set up by the Yellow Vests.
There have also been 553 woundings, 17 of them serious.
More than 95 police have been hurt in a variety of disturbances, including an attempt to storm the Elysee Palace last weekend.
Some 3,000 police were on the streets of central Paris today, where the protesters pledged to bring the city to a standstill.
By 11am, clouds of tear gas covered the Champs Elysee and especially the area close to the place de la Concorde.
Running battles were taking place between mobile squads of CRS police, and the demonstrators, as objects were thrown between the two.
The Champ de Mars - the field next to the Eiffel Tower – had been set aside by the Paris authorities for the demonstration, but it was ignored by the protestors.
‘We’re not here to do what officials tell us,’ said Max Lefevre, a 22-year-old student taking part in the demonstrations.
‘We’re here to oppose a government that is completely out of touch with the lives of ordinary people. This is a people’s revolt.’
Mr Macron has insisted that fuel prices have to rise in line with green initiatives made necessary by the Paris Climate Change agreement.
He said there would be ‘no possiblity’ of his government backing down in the face of disturbances.
Taxes on diesel have gone up 7 cents and are to keep climbing in the coming years, Transport Minister Elisabeth Borne has said.
The tax on petrol is to increase 4 cents with the fuel currently costing about 1.64 euros (£1.45) a litre in Paris, slightly more than diesel.
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