Severe Clashes Between 'Yellow Vest' Protesters and Police in Paris

On Saturday, clashes between protesters against rising fuel prices in France and Paris police resulted in dozens of injuries. Police forces used tear gas and water cannons to prevent protesters from advancing towards government buildings. They also arrested several protesters known as the 'Yellow Vests.' According to Agence France-Presse, about three thousand police officers were deployed in the streets of Paris on Saturday. In the morning, around eight thousand protesters gathered in Paris and about five thousand on the famous Champs-Élysées, moving towards Place de la Concorde, where clashes occurred between them and the police. Reports indicate that a group of protesters began tearing up the street pavement and setting some objects on fire, intending to move towards government buildings, which police prevented. According to some media, the protesters' gathering continued into the night. This group of protesters, wearing yellow vests, began their protests against the government's plan to increase fuel taxes eight days ago. They also protest against the high cost of living and accuse the government of enacting policies that only benefit the wealthy. According to the French Ministry of the Interior, about 81,000 people participated in the protests across the country on Saturday. The Minister of the Interior stated that the instigators of these clashes were some far-right extremists who attacked security forces. He accused Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far-right in France and a rival of Emmanuel Macron in the presidential election, of encouraging the protesters to take such actions. Le Pen denied these accusations. Reports also indicated that some far-left groups were present in these clashes. However, the 'Yellow Vests' have declared that this protest movement transcends political groups. This movement began spontaneously, with social media playing a significant role in its formation.