Yellow Vest Rallies In Paris Evolve Into Violent Clashes Between Activists, Police

Yellow vest protests in the French capital, which are ongoing for the eighteenth consecutive weekend, have evolved into serious clashes between activists and police, a Sputnik correspondent reported on Saturday.

PARIS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th March, 2019) Yellow vest protests in the French capital, which are ongoing for the eighteenth consecutive weekend, have evolved into serious clashes between activists and police, a Sputnik correspondent reported on Saturday.

As many as 31 people have been detained so far, according to media reports.

Several thousands of people, who gathered at the Place Charles de Gaulle near the Arc de Triomphe, have been walking on adjacent streets for around an hour. Since some of them were acting aggressively and provocatively, the police, who have previously used fire gas and smoke bombs, finally resorted to firing a water cannon against the protesters.

The activists are currently at the foot of the Arc de Triomphe, in the very beginning of Champs-Elysees.

The Place Charles de Gaulle in enveloped in thick smoke from pellets and flares, and fireworks and concussion grenades are being exploded all the time. The protesters keep throwing stones and thrash at police officers.

The police are trying to disperse the crowd and force it to leave the site, including by using rubber bullets.

The wave of protests started in France in mid-November last year. While the government abandoned its plans to raise fuel taxes, which triggered the rallies in the first place, and introduced other measures to improve the country's socioeconomic situation, protesters continue to take to the streets across France every weekend. Yellow vest protests have been marked with violent clashes between activists and security forces.