French police said 109 people were in custody on Wednesday after violent May Day protests in Paris, correcting an earlier figure of 209, The Guardian reports.
Police arrest dozens at Paris May Day protests
STEPANAKERT, MAY 2, ARTSAKHPRESS:Police used water cannon and teargas against masked protesters who smashed shop windows and hurled petrol bombs on Tuesday evening after a planned peaceful May Day rally by labour unions.
The clashes came against a backdrop of union discontent with the president, Emmanuel Macron, over his plans to stimulate France’s economy and spur jobs growth by loosening labour regulations.
Riot police in Paris had warned on Monday of possible clashes with far-left anarchist groups, known as Black Blocs, after a call on social media to make Tuesday a “Revolutionary Day”.
Authorities said around 1,200 masked and hooded protesters dressed in black turned up on the sidelines of the annual May Day demonstration by labour unions.
Paris police chief Michel Delpuech told a news conference late on Tuesday that more than 200 anarchists were arrested and four people, including a police officer, were lightly wounded in the ensuing disturbances. On Wednesday the number in custody was put at 109.
Protesters smashed windows of businesses, including a Renault garage and McDonald’s restaurant near the Austerlitz train station in eastern Paris. They also ransacked shops, torched cars and scrawled anti-capitalist graffiti on walls before eventually being dispersed by police.
