France 'Yellow Vest' Protests: Over a hundred hurt in violence in Paris

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02:43

Over a hundred people have been injured after a third weekend nationwide social movement in central Paris. Riot police have clashed with protesters demonstrating against a rise in fuel taxes. Hundreds of people have been arrested. CGTN's Elena Casas reports from Paris.

Central Paris was burning on Saturday as protesters set fire to parked cars, smashed bank windows and ripped up paving stones to throw at the police. Some of the clashes took place next to the Arc de Triomphe – which was vandalized with graffiti. Security officials responded with tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets. The severity of these latest protests surprised many in France.

EDOUARD PHILIPPE FRENCH PRIME MINISTER "I have to say I was shocked by the targeting of the symbols of France. The fact that the Arc de Triomphe was tagged, that a violent protest took place around the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. These images shock me, and I want to tell all of those who are watching that we want these protests to unfold calmly and within the rule of law."

Some of the protesters appeared to come looking for a fight - but most of the thousands of people who took to the streets of Paris were hoping to demonstrate peacefully. It's the third consecutive weekend when parts of France have been brought to a halt by the yellow vest demonstrators - named after the safety vests that motorists are required to carry in their cars.

ELENA CASAS PARIS "Local businesses and residents are clearing up the mess after Saturday's exceptionally violent demonstrations. The interior ministry says there were significantly fewer people on the streets compared to last week - in what's perhaps a sign the escalating violence is putting off more moderate supporters of the movement."

The protests started over a planned rise in fuel taxes, but they've become a lightning rod for a whole range of grievances about the cost of living. Some polls have shown that as many as three quarters of French voters back them.

"We're sick of working and paying such high taxes, France is the most taxed country in the world. We can't live like this anymore."

"We're being strangled by the government, by taxes. We have no money left at the ends of the months. We've had enough, like it says on my jacket, the people have had enough of being bled dry."

French President Emmanuel Macron says his government wants to talk to the demonstrators - but has so far refused to scrap the fuel tax rise. With public anger boiling over, he needs to move quickly to convince people he is listening. Elena Casas, CGTN, Paris.