A difficult situation for the authorities has developed in France, where hundreds of thousands of citizens took to the streets for a May Day demonstration and clashed with the police and gendarmerie.
Demonstrations took place in many cities and towns in France, and in total, according to trade unions, more than 300 rallies.
Across the country, between 500,000 and 650,000 demonstrators took to the streets, according to authorities. In Paris alone, at least 100,000 demonstrators took part in the demonstrations.
15:52 Die Situation in #paris ist unfassbar chaotisch. Überall Tränengas, Böller, Brände… Polizei im Gegensatz zum letzten Mal eher Eskalativ unterwegs. #1erMai2023 pic.twitter.com/RKOFet5zOv
— Armilla Brandt (@armillabrandt) May 1, 2023
In Paris, the forces of order continue to intervene “to prevent the radical elements from settling and blocking the march.” As of 3:00 pm, the police had made 30 arrests in Paris, according to the source.
🇫🇷French police detained a large number of demonstrators at the May Day demonstrations that turned into riots.
There are injured in the ranks of the demonstrators as well as in the ranks of the police. There are also more seriously injured. pic.twitter.com/dN5cawKdcm
— Spriter (@Spriter99880) May 1, 2023
The situation is clearly out of control, the protesters, as seen in the video, are chasing the security forces, throwing Molotov cocktails at them. Also, judging by the video, after a Molotov cocktail thrown by protesters hit him, a policeman was set on fire.
Les policiers reculent face aux projectiles. Manifestation du #1erMai a #Paris #fetedutravail pic.twitter.com/0TFiPggANc
— Amar Taoualit (@TaoualitAmar) May 1, 2023
At least 108 police officers were injured
At least 108 police officers and gendarmes were injured on May 1 in France, 20 of them in Paris during the May Day protests, French Interior Minister Gerard Dharmannen said.
He added that 291 people were arrested during protests across the country, including 90 in the capital.
The number of police officers injured today “May 1 is extremely rare,” the interior minister said, “strongly condemning this type of violence.”
A police officer who was firebombed in Paris “had burns to his face and hands…” without risk to his life, Dharmannin added.
⚡️Protesters chasing the police in Paris pic.twitter.com/edNURzbKJM
— War Monitor (@WarMonitors) May 1, 2023
🇫🇷 – Policemen on fire after molotov amid May 1st. pic.twitter.com/yZvgjXe8Ir
— Sinnaig (@Sinnaig) May 1, 2023
#Paris, la police est debordee, un engin incendiaire a explose. Des crs sont touches par les flammes. #1erMai #fetedutravail #ReformeDesRetraites #manifs1ermai #manifestation #manifestations #manif1ermai pic.twitter.com/PdqRQbibHZ
— Jules Ravel (@JulesRavel1) May 1, 2023
At the same time, many images and videos are leaking online showing security forces brutally beating protesters. The protesters smashed the window of the Copy-Top store at the corner of Rue Shemin-Vert and Voltaire Boulevard in the 11th arrondissement. The police attacked them and fired tear gas in an attempt to separate the protesters.
#Paris, les CRS sont en très forte difficulté place de la nation. La situation est chaotique. #1erMai #fetedutravail #ReformeDesRetraites #manifs1ermai #manifestation #manifestations #manif1ermai pic.twitter.com/mNpU1gUXjg
— Jules Ravel (@JulesRavel1) May 1, 2023
⚡️Police violently attack protesters in France pic.twitter.com/4vymw9wwiW
— War Monitor (@WarMonitors) May 1, 2023
Heavy clashes in Paris, police hit by incendiary bombs. pic.twitter.com/fUzEV4PyDe
— Spriter (@Spriter99880) May 1, 2023
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