French police fire tear gas at Yellow Vest protesters as violence erupts after Bastille Day parade in Paris
- After a military parade attended by Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel, protesters flooded the streets
- The Yellow Vests barricaded themselves in on the Champs Elysées and threw missiles at police
- Earlier in the day, around 150 protesters and their leader were detained before the parade
- President Macron was booed and jeered during the celebrations on France’s national day
Bastille Day has turned ugly in Paris as police have clashed with ‘Yellow Vest’ protesters on the famous Champs Elysées.
After a military parade to mark France’s national day, watched by embattled president Emmanuel Macron, the streets saw violence and fire as police used tear gas to try to dispel the protesters.
The boulevard which leads to the Arc de Triomphe had been closed for the parade but as soon as it was reopened, the demonstrators flooded and occupied it.
A fire breaks out in front of the Arc de Triomphe on the Champs Elysées as Yellow Vest protesters and police clash on Bastille Day
The boulevard which leads to the Arc de Triomphe had been closed for the parade but as soon as it was reopened, the demonstrators flooded and occupied it
A protester kicks a police officer dressed in riot gear in the back (left) while another member of the Gendarmerie looks on through the flames at the Arc de Triomphe
There were ugly scenes on the iconic Parisian street after the Yellow Vests flooded and occupied it following a military march
French police stand guard during the clashes which have taken place on France’s national day after a parade attended by Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel
Emmanuel Macron today became the first president in recent history to be booed during France’s Bastille day celebrations as he hosted European leaders including Angela Merkel in Paris
During a standoff with police, the Yellow Vests, named after their hi-viz jackets, launched a number of objects and set fire to a bin.
France’s BFM television showed images of police firing tear gas to disperse the protesters, some hooded, who tried to block the road with metal barricades, dustbins and other debris.
Several loud bangs could be heard. Protesters hurled objects at the police, booed and set a bin on fire.
Earlier, a French police source and a court source said some 152 ‘yellow vest’ protesters and their leaders had been detained near the Champs Elysees as they tried to stage a protest.
Members of the French anti-riot police CRS evacuate members of the public shouting French President down during his review of the troops
World leaders including German chancellor Angela Merkel, EU commissioner Jean-Claude Juncker, Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte had joined President Emmaneul Macron and his wife Brigitte for the day of celebrations.
Macron was jeered and booed but it appeared he was unfazed as he laughed and joked with his fellow world leaders.
There were shouts of ‘Macron Resign!’ from the Gilets Jaunes that infiltrated the heavily policed event.
‘The boos and whistles were non-stop and Macron certainly heard them all,’ said one of the protesters with the Yellow Vests, who are named after the high visibility jackets they normally wear.
Fire fighters extinguish a fire on the day of violence which was forewarned by the leaders of the Yellow Vest movement
Embers burn at the bottom of a bin while an army recruitment poster hangs off it on what is supposedly the day of France’s biggest celebrations
The Yellow Vest movement started in November 2018 after a projected increase in fuel taxes and has taken to the streets each week since then
Barriers were thrown as the protesters from the nebulous movement attempted to barricade themselves in
A protester said: ‘We managed to get round security by leaving our yellow vests at home, and this allowed our protest to go ahead. It’s a humiliating day for Macron’
‘We managed to get round security by leaving our yellow vests at home, and this allowed our protest to go ahead. It’s a humiliating day for Macron.’
The group, made up of protesters from both the far-right and far-left have regularly rioted on the Champs Elysee, causing millions of pounds worth of damage to restaurants and banks, and looting shops.
The Yellow Vest movement started in November 2018 after a projected increase in fuel taxes.
The vest became a symbol of the protests because they are required to be carried in every vehicle by law.
Demonstrations have been taking place every week since then in France and the movement has even inspired similar action in other countries.
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