USA TODAY

PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron denounced violent protesters who attacked police and vandalized a Paris monument — protesters tagged the Arc de Triomphe with multi-colored graffiti — promising they will be “held responsible for their acts.”

Macron said Saturday that the protests which have left dozens injured and at least 224 arrested “have nothing to do with the peaceful expression of a legitimate anger.” He says “no causes justifies” attacks on police or pillaging stores and burning buildings.

Macron said he is holding an emergency government meeting Sunday on the protests. He spoke from the Group of 20 industrial nations summit being held in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

France’s prime minister also announced he was cancelling a planned trip to a major environmental conference in Poland on Sunday in the wake of his country’s worst urban violence in more than a decade. Prime Minister Edouard Philippe’s office said he will send the environment minister, Francois de Rugy, in his place to the COP24 conference in Katowice, Poland.

The cancellation came after violent “yellow jacket” protests engulfed Paris, with protesters vandalizing the Arc de Triomphei, overturning and torching cars and ransacking stores. Protesters are angry over rising taxes and the high cost of living.

France’s interior minister says police were not able to keep protesters from damaging the Arc de Triomphe monument in Paris or spraying it with graffiti.

France saw its worst urban violence in a decade on Saturday as protesters trashed areas of central Paris.

French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner, speaking on French television TF1, said “while some (protesters) invaded the Arc de Triomphe, our police forces were protecting other protesters and bystanders.”

French television showed images of protesters inside the famous monument, spraying graffiti and taking selfies.

Castaner said troublemakers were mixing in with ordinary protesters, called “yellow jackets” for their fluorescent vests, so they could run from police more easily. He urged protesters not to take part in violence. Central Paris was locked down by Saturday afternoon, with all roads leading away from the arc closed off as more police moved in. Police said at least 224 people have been arrested in Saturday’s riot in the French capital.

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen urged the protesters to go home in a tweet.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo tweeted her “indignation” and “deep sadness,” saying that violence is “not acceptable.”

Protests against the high cost of living elsewhere in France on Saturday were largely peaceful.