Clashes between police and protestors marred the start of May Day rallies in Paris on Wednesday. Officers used tear gas to try and disperse crowds reportedly infiltrated by so-called 'Black Bloc' activists.The May Day march comes in the wake of a months-long protest by the gilet jaunes movement.
At least 200 people have been arrested so far at May Day protests in Paris, according to the police, which added it had carried out at least 12,528 searches.
Clashes have already broken out between police and protesters at the Place d'Italie, in Paris's southeastern 13th arrondissement (or district).
The first clashes erupted before the march even began, as hundreds of activists pushed to the front of the crowd gathered on Montparnasse Boulevard on the left bank of the river Seine, hurling bottles and other projectiles at police. One protester was reportedly injured in the head.
Lots of police vehicles and spot checks around the #Montparnasse tower, site of several #MayDay demos. #1erMai #1May2019 #Paris pic.twitter.com/XLgYOemjpe
mike woods (@mawoods) 1 mai 2019
Riot police also used stingball grenades to disperse the crowd.
A controversial riot control device, the grenade is thrown at ground level, releasing scores of rubber pellets that cause an intense stinging to the legs within a 15-metre (50-foot) range.
French authorities have announced tight security to ward off the risk of vandalism by 'Black Bloc' activists who tag along just to wreak havoc.
More than 7,400 police have been deployed in Paris, where the main union protest will march from the Montparnasse train station to the Place d’Italie, in the south of the city.
Six armoured vehicles and six water cannons are also on standby to be brought in if needed, a police source told AFP.
Lots of #YellowVests at the main #Mayday march in Paris, including organizer Jerome Rodrigues, amid chanting.#1erMai #1Mai2019 #1May #MayDay pic.twitter.com/IGCUn0Bcvg
mike woods (@mawoods) May 1, 2019
Authorities have ordered at least 580 shops and restaurants along the protest route to close as a precaution, after businesses were destroyed during recent Yellow Vest protests.
Demonstrations have been banned at a number of locations in the French capital, including: the Champs-Elysées Avenue, the nearby Elysée presidential palace and the area around the Notre-Dame Cathedral.
A controversial law came into effect in April that grants French police the power to carry out searches of demonstrators' personal belongings and/or vehicles. It also made it a criminal offence to cover your face, punishable by up to one year in jail or a €15,000 fine.
Nationwide
More than 230 May Day protests have been organised nationwide, all of which went smoothly with the exception of Paris, according to the CGT union.
In Marseille, the union said that 30,000 people took to the streets. The police estimate was significantly lower at 5,500, of which 1,200 were Yellow Vest protesters.
An estimated 6,400 protesters, including 1,300 Yellow Vests, marched in Bordeaux, according to the police. The CGT put this number higher at 10,000.
Demonstrations were also held in the cities of Strasbourg, Lyon and Toulouse, drawing crowds of around 2,000, according to Reuters.
