French Police Detain Over 120 People Amid Yellow Vest Rallies In Paris - Reports

Muhammad Irfan Published April 20, 2019 | 06:17 PM

French police detained 126 people during yellow vest demonstrations in Paris on Saturday, the 23d consecutive weekend of national protests throughout the country, Le Figaro newspaper reported

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th April, 2019) French police detained 126 people during yellow vest demonstrations in Paris on Saturday, the 23d consecutive weekend of national protests throughout the country, Le Figaro newspaper reported.

Earlier in the day, local media reported citing the Paris police that a total of 70 protesters were arrested in the capital amid the rallies, mostly for carrying "prohibited objects."

A Sputnik correspondent reported that thousands of people gathered near the building of the French Ministry for the Economy and Finance in Paris for a demonstration. Protesters are carrying banners with anti-government slogans and national and regional flags.

Protesters were throwing bottles with unidentified substance at police officers, who, in turn, responded with using a tear gas, according to Sputnik correspondent.

Participants of the rally are currently heading toward the Place de la République.

On Friday, French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said that over 60,000 law enforcement officers would maintain security at yellow vest rallies across France on Saturday.

The wave of the yellow vest rallies started in France in mid-November over planned hikes in fuel taxes. While the French government abandoned its plans to raise fuel taxes and introduced other measures to improve the country's socioeconomic situation, protesters continue to take to the streets across France every weekend for demonstrations to express their discontent with the government's policies.