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Dec 3, 2018Worst riots in Paris since 1968

Several thousand riot police were overwhelmed on Saturday as they fought running battles with protesters in the shadows of some of Paris’ fabled landmarks and through its fanciest shopping districts. More than 400 people were arrested and more than 100 injured, shocking Parisians and tourists alike.
It all started as a yellow vest protest movement against rising living costs (fuel and such) and has been hijacked by those only looking for trouble. As almost always happens.

Riot police secure the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes, demonstrate in Paris STEPHANE MAHE/REUTERS

Protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes, face off with riot police near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe during clashes at the Place de l'Etoile in Paris STEPHANE MAHE/REUTERS

Protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes, face off with riot police during clashes at the Place de l'Etoile in Paris STEPHANE MAHE/REUTERS

Protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes, stand near a burning barricade as they face off with riot police during clashes near the Place de l'Etoile in Paris STEPHANE MAHE/REUTERS

French riot police stand guard during clashes with protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes, at the Place de l'Etoile in Paris STEPHANE MAHE/REUTERS

Protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes, face off with French riot police during clashes at the Place de l'Etoile near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris STEPHANE MAHE/REUTERS

French riot police stand guard during clashes with protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes, near the Place de l'Etoile in Paris STEPHANE MAHE/REUTERS

Protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes, face off with French riot police during clashes at the Place de l'Etoile near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris STEPHANE MAHE/REUTERS

Protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes, face off with French riot police during clashes at the Place de l'Etoile near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris STEPHANE MAHE/REUTERS

French riot police stand guard near a barricade during clashes with "yellow vests" protesters near the Place de l'Etoile in Paris STEPHANE MAHE/REUTERS

Protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes, face off with French riot police during clashes at the Place de l'Etoile near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris STEPHANE MAHE/REUTERS

A French riot policeman walks during clashes with "yellow vests" protesters, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes, near the Place de l'Etoile in Paris STEPHANE MAHE/REUTERS

Protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes, face off with French riot police during clashes at the Place de l'Etoile near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris STEPHANE MAHE/REUTERS

Protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes, face off with French riot police during clashes at the Place de l'Etoile near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris STEPHANE MAHE/REUTERS

A protester wearing a yellow vest, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes, faces off with French riot police as he walks among tear gas during clashes at the Place de l'Etoile in Paris STEPHANE MAHE/REUTERS

A general view shows police forces and protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes, during clashes as part of a demonstration near the Place de l'Etoile in Paris STEPHANE MAHE/REUTERS

A protester wearing a yellow vest, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes, demonstrates near the Place de l'Etoile in Paris STEPHANE MAHE/REUTERS

The message "Macron Resign" is seen on the Arc de Triomphe as protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes, demonstrate at the Place de l'Etoile in Paris STEPHANE MAHE/REUTERS

A view shows protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes, during clashes as part of a demonstration at the Place de l'Etoile in Paris STEPHANE MAHE/REUTERS

A view shows a barricade with police forces and protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes, during clashes as part of a demonstration near the Place de l'Etoile in Paris STEPHANE MAHE/REUTERS

A view shows a barricade with police forces and protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes, during clashes as part of a demonstration near the Place de l'Etoile in Paris STEPHANE MAHE/REUTERS

French riot police stand guard near the Arc de Triomphe during clashes with protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes, in Paris BENOIT TESSIER/REUTERS

French riot police evacuate an elderly couple near the Arc de Triomphe during clashes with protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes, in Paris LUCIEN LIBERT/REUTERS

Smoke fills the air inside the Jardin des Tuileries as clashes continue between police and protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes in Paris CHARLES PLATIAU/REUTERS

French riot police stand guard in a street near the Place de l'Etoile during clashes with protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes, in Paris STEPHANE MAHE/REUTERS

French riot police stand guard near burned cars in a street near the Place de l'Etoile during clashes with protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes, in Paris BENOIT TESSIER/REUTERS

French riot police stand guard near the Arc de Triomphe during clashes with protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes, in Paris BENOIT TESSIER/REUTERS

Firemen stand next to burning cars set afire by protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel fuel taxes, during clashes near the Place de l'Etoile in Paris STEPHANE MAHE/REUTERS

Firemen extinguish burning cars set afire by protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel fuel taxes, during clashes near the Place de l'Etoile in Paris STEPHANE MAHE/REUTERS

Firemen extinguish burning cars set afire by protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel fuel taxes, during clashes near the Place de l'Etoile in Paris STEPHANE MAHE/REUTERS

Firemen extinguish burning cars set afire by protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel fuel taxes, during clashes near the Place de l'Etoile in Paris STEPHANE MAHE/REUTERS

French police forces secure the Trocadero place near the Eiffel tower during a demonstration by protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel fuel taxes, in Paris STEPHANE MAHE/REUTERS

French riot police stand near an overturned burning car on avenue Kleber after clashes with protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes, in Paris CHARLES PLATIAU/REUTERS

Burned cars are seen on avenue Kleber after clashes with protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes, in Paris CHARLES PLATIAU/REUTERS

Firemen extinguish burning cars set afire by protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel fuel taxes, during clashes near the Place de l'Etoile in Paris STEPHANE MAHE/REUTERS

French firemen extinguish burning barricades on avenue Kleber after clashes with protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes, in Paris CHARLES PLATIAU/REUTERS

A damaged bank cash machine of BNP Paribas bank is seen on avenue Kleber after clashes with protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes, in Paris CHARLES PLATIAU/REUTERS

Protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes, walk among tear gas during clashes with French riot police at the Place de l'Etoile near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris STEPHANE MAHE/REUTERS

French riot police stand guard near a barricade during clashes with protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes, at the Place de l'Etoile in Paris STEPHANE MAHE/REUTERS

Firemen extinguish burning cars set afire by protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel fuel taxes, during clashes near the Place de l'Etoile in Paris STEPHANE MAHE/REUTERS

A view shows a barricade with police forces and protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes, during clashes as part of a demonstration near the Place de l'Etoile in Paris STEPHANE MAHE/REUTERS

A vandalized car is seen on a street the morning after clashes with protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes, in Paris BENOIT TESSIER/REUTERS

Vandalized cars are seen on a street the morning after clashes with protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes, in Paris BENOIT TESSIER/REUTERS

Cleanup operations continue under the message, "The Yellow Vests will Triumph" written on the Arc de Triomphe, the morning after clashes with protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes, in Paris BENOIT TESSIER/REUTERS

Vandalized cars are seen on a street the morning after clashes with protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes, in Paris BENOIT TESSIER/REUTERS

FILE PHOTO: French riot police stand guard at the Arc de Triomphe during clashes with protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes, at the Place de l'Etoile in Paris Stephane Mahe/REUTERS

A person makes a picture outside a vandalized restaurant the morning after clashes with protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes, in Paris STEPHANE MAHE/REUTERS

Cleanup operations to remove graffiti scrawled at the Arc de Triomphe continue the day after clashes with protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel taxes, in Paris STEPHANE MAHE/REUTERS

French riot police take position during clashes with French ambulance drivers as part of a demonstration at the Place de la Concorde in Paris GONZALO FUENTES/REUTERS

French ambulance drivers hold blue, white, red smoke bombs during a demonstration at the Place de la Concorde in Paris GONZALO FUENTES/REUTERS
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