On the ninth day of protests in France, train and plane traffic was disrupted, just days after the government pushed through a bill to raise the retirement age by two years to 64.
Teachers, among many other professions, have opted to leave their jobs until the situation calms down.
The demonstrations in central Paris were mostly peaceful, but small groups of Black Bloc anarchists smashed shop windows, smashed street furniture and ransacked a McDonald’s restaurant.
Clashes erupted as riot police entered and pushed back the anarchists with tear gas and stun grenades.
Home Secretary Gerald Darmanin said 123 police officers were injured and 80 arrested across the country.
Unions fear the protests could become more violent if the government does not heed growing popular anger over pension restrictions.
He pointed out that authorities have recorded 140 fires in the capital, of which 50 are still ongoing, with most of the cases caused by city furniture or piles of garbage that have accumulated on the streets after a two-week strike by collectors.
Darmanin indicated that police believe there were about 1,200 violent protesters in Paris, whom he identified in many cases as far-left activists, most of whom were young. A thousand of them are still on the streets of the city, justifying a large police deployment.
He indicated that they were analyzing images from police surveillance cameras and from the streets to try to identify them, and that he had instructed them to take them to court.
The minister assured that this is the sixth day of the demonstration, which ends in riots, and assured that “violence is unacceptable.” (Reuters and EFE)
Source: Aristegui Noticias
As an experienced journalist and author, Mary has been reporting on the latest news and trends for over 5 years. With a passion for uncovering the stories behind the headlines, Mary has earned a reputation as a trusted voice in the world of journalism. Her writing style is insightful, engaging and thought-provoking, as she takes a deep dive into the most pressing issues of our time.