Riots in Paris as furious masked mob set cars on fire and throw Molotov cocktails at police as thousands march against law making it illegal to film police
Cars were ignited by furious gangs of rioters in Paris today as thousands marched against a new law making it illegal to film the police.
Flames and thick black smoke filled major streets in the French capital on Saturday as youths wearing black masks and balaclavas threw missiles including Molotov Cocktails at the police.
Interior minister Gerald Darmanin said at least 64 people were arrested during the protests and eight police officers were injured. In a tweet, he praised police for facing down 'very violent individuals'.
The interior ministry said about 52,350 people demonstrated around France, including 5,000 in Paris.
The new legislation would have created a new criminal offence for publishing images of police officers with intent to cause them harm but President Macron's administration has since pledged to rewrite it following riots across the country.
Despite the rewrite concession, opponents have pledged to continue to protest until it is removed completely.
In a day of dramatic protests, cars were set alight in the street, filling the roads of Paris with plumes of thick black smoke. Pictured: A 'yellow vest' anti-government protestor kneels raising his fist holding a sign which reads: 'Living, Yes! Surviving, No!'
A motorcycle is pictured set alight as thousands take to the streets during the second weekend of demonstrations against the police
Anti-riot police officers intervene as thousands of people take to the streets during the second weekend of demonstrations in Paris
The country has seen demonstrations against ongoing violence by police and new legislation, one element of which - Article 24 - supports law enforcement by forbidding disseminating images of police taken while on duty
Anti-riot police officers take security measures as thousands take to the streets in Paris
Protesters clash with riot police in Paris as demonstrations for 'social rights' and against the 'global security' draft law continue into the evening
Protesters were blocked by riot police officers during the demonstration this afternoon in Paris as yellow flares were set off
Firefighters intervene on vehicle fires during the demonstration this evening in Paris. Article 24 would criminalise the publication of images of on-duty police officers with the intent of harming their 'physical or psychological integrity'
Police officers carrying riot shields walk past vehicle fires during the demonstrations in the streets of Paris tonight
An activist from Gilet Jaune (Yellow Vests) holds a sign says 'Live yes, survive no' as several cars are on fire during the protest in Paris tonight
A car set alight as thousands take to the streets during the second weekend of demonstrations against police measures
French anti-riot policemen use a water cannon against protesters during a demonstration for 'social rights' and against the 'global security' draft law in Paris
A man records on his phone a car burning during a protest against France's controversial global security law in Paris tonight
Tensions rose at the Paris march as intruders set fire to several cars, broke into a bank and tossed objects at police
A protester holds a banner hand writting 'Sweet France, dear country of violence' in front of CRS riot police during the demonstration in Paris tonight
The protest-crashers, who disrupted a similar demonstration a week ago, formed a barricade on a section of the march route in eastern Paris, temporarily blocking the procession
Demonstrators attempted get past the wall of riot police who blocked the street in Paris which saw fires and clashes break out in the capital
Reports suggest some members of the protest were throwing missiles at the riot police in Paris, including Molotov Cocktails
During the struggle between officers and demonstrators in Paris, the police were pelted with pink paint as well as claims of other missiles being launched at them
Police officers who have come under fire for alleged racism and gratuitous violence within their ranks were hard-pressed to stop the individuals seeding chaos at the march
Protestors took the streets in Paris again today, after weeks of demonstrations, to campaign against the French government's proposed 'General Security' bill, forcing the police to intervene
Across the city fires broke out, including this car which has been set alight as part of the growing tensions between protestors and police in Paris
'They were part of a march heading towards Place de la Republique,' said the source.
'Vehicles and property are being set alight and officers are coming under attack. The situation is very tense.
'There are hundreds of Black Bloc anarchists in the crowd and they are starting the fires, and smashing windows.'
As the violence intensified, officers responded with tear gas and baton charges, and water canons were also deployed.
Local police confirmed that by early evening there had been 22 arrests of 'very violent suspects' in the area around Avenue Gambetta, Paris. Pictured: A demonstrator holds an umbrella and a sign reading 'For your safety you will have no more freedoms' during the protests
A spokesperson for the local police said highly organised rioters had put numerous shop windows in Paris
The interior ministry said about 52,350 people demonstrated around France, including 5,000 in Paris
One source described the situation as 'very tense' as police attempted to block off protestors in the French capital
Interior minister Gerald Darmanin said at least 64 people were arrested during the protests and eight police officers were injured
Saturday's marches were focused on a security bill that includes an article aimed at outlawing the publication of images of police officers with intent to cause them harm
French riot police clash with protesters during a demonstration on December 5, 2020 in Paris, France
Thousands of people around France have protested against a proposed bill that could make it more difficult for witnesses to film police officers
Large groups of demonstrators, who were piled in together on the streets of Paris and unable to social distance, were blocked off during the demonstration
Thousands of people around France have protested against a proposed bill that could make it more difficult for witnesses to film police officers
People marched through the streets of Paris which saw fires burning and cars set alight holding signs, such as this which reads: 'Sweet France. Dear country of violence'
Police detained several protestors during the demonstrations, including this one individual in Marseille, southern France
Police officers are reported to have dragged a protestor during the protests in Marseille today
French riot police clash with protesters during a demonstration on December 5, 2020 in Paris, France. The country's ruling party promised changes to the proposed 'global security law,' which would restrict how images of police officers are recorded and published
Tensions are running particularly high because four officers are currently facing criminal charges after beating up Michel Zecler, a black music producer, two weeks ago
There were similar scenes a week ago in Paris when police came under continual attack around Place de Bastille.
French President Emmanuel Macron's administration has pledged to rewrite a new Global Security bill which will make it illegal to publish any images of the police that might harm officers 'physically or psychologically'.
Tensions are running particularly high because four officers are currently facing criminal charges after beating up Michel Zecler, a black music producer, two weeks ago.
More than 20 arrests were made today as violence broke out in Paris and smoke filled the streets
As the violence intensified, officers responded with tear gas and baton charges, and water canons were also deployed
As well as shops and car windows, billboards were also destroyed by the protestors in Paris
Violent clashes continued into the afternoon as police were forced to detain members of the protest in Paris
Thousands of people marched in Paris, holding placards and banners against the General Security bill
Firefighters put out a fire during a protest on December 5, 2020 in Paris, France
Shop windows were broken, and several cars and at least one motorcycle were also set on fire
Security forces dodged flying objects or stopped them with their shields. One officer was seen blocking a flaming projectile that appeared to be a Molotov cocktail
As the winter evening set in in Paris, the streets were filled with colour as fires and flares continue to burn in the city
“This is urban violence, not a demonstration,” Bruno Bartocetti, head of the SGP-Police FO union, told the CNews TV channel
Demonstrators have pointed to the fact that all the evidence against the police comes from CCTV footage, and film shot by passers-by outside Mr Zecler's Black Gold studio in Paris.
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said he would press for the dismissal of all the officers involved, saying they had 'soiled the uniform of the republic'.
Today, there were also demonstrations against the new law in some 89 other cities and towns beyond Paris.
Cars were seen burnt out this evening after protests resulted in cars being set alight across the capital
Firefighters attended the scene in Paris this evening to extinguish a vehicle which had been set on fire
Riot mobile gendarmes stand in front of a wall inscription reading 'Police everywhere, justice nowhere'
Protestors were seen throwing items in the street while standing beside a burning barricade in Paris
Some demonstrators sat on chairs watching a car which had been set alight during the clashes in Paris
Most of France remains under coronavirus lockdown, but the forces of law and order today appeared relaxed about the large numbers turning up to demonstrate.
Protesters argue that recording officers in action is essential to being able to condemn and curb the actions of violent officers. They also worry how courts would determine whether images were posted with intent to harm.
In July, three French police officers were charged with manslaughter over the death of a delivery man, Cedric Chouviat, which bystanders caught on video.
Mr Chouviat's death had similarities with the killing of George Floyd in the US state of Minneapolis, which sparked outrage around the world and a series of Black Lives Matter demonstrations in France.
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