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Violence hits Paris in day of protests over Macron's pension changes

Europe Materials 24 March 2023 00:19 (UTC +04:00)
Violence hits Paris in day of protests over Macron's pension changes

Police fired tear gas and fought with violent black-clad anarchists in Paris on Thursday as hundreds of thousands of mainly peaceful protesters marched across France against President Emmanuel Macron's plan to raise the pension age, Trend reports citing Reuters.

In a ninth day of nationwide protests, train and air travel was disrupted while teachers were among many professions to walk off the job, just days after the government pushed through legislation to raise the retirement age by two years to 64.

Demonstrations in central Paris were generally peaceful, but smaller groups of "Black Bloc" anarchists smashed shop windows, demolished street furniture and ransacked a McDonalds restaurant. Clashes ensued as riot police moved in and drove back the anarchists with tear gas and stun grenades.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said 123 police officers had been injured and 80 people arrested across the country.

Small groups continued to clash with police in Paris into the evening, setting bins ablaze and playing cat-and-mouse with security forces.

Labour unions fear that protests could turn more violent if the government does not heed the growing popular anger over pension curbs.

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