Paris is 'like a warzone,’ a witness told MailOnline who said he was terrified

Extended attack not attended by police despite police station next door

A young woman screamed helplessly as she was set upon by a violent gang in the centre of tourist Paris today.

She was repeatedly punched and kicked in the head and upper body as around 15 mainly men surrounded her, knocking her to the ground.

The terrifying attack, which was captured on video, took place within sight of Notre Dame Cathedral, and less than half-a-mile from the Louvre museum.

Horrific screams: The girl (circled), who had attended a rap concert, got caught up in the violent mob

The woman – who has not been identified – was with a group of friends who attended a rap gig on a street close to Rue de Rivoli, the equivalent of London’s Oxford Street in Paris

State of Emergency: One video shows a man who was knocked unconscious by another gang staggering away from the scene of the crime with a head wound

Police were nowhere to be seen, as the savagery continued until the early hours of this morning, with others reporting muggings and gratuitous assaults.

Another video obtained by Mail Online shows a man who was knocked unconscious by another gang staggering away from the scene of the crime with a head wound.

This is despite France officially being under a ‘State of Emergency’ following the terrorist attacks in which up to 150 people were murdered in Paris last year.

The arrival of thousands of football fans, including many from the UK, as well as ‘ultra’ hooligans from countries like Russia for Euro 2016 is also meant to have improved security.’

But this did not stop the marauding mobs carrying out their assaults unchallenged.

‘It’s one of the most terrifying situations I’ve ever experienced in my life,’ said a 42-year-old Englishman who asked not to be identified by name.

At around 1am the woman (circled) and a group of friends were walking in front of an entrance to Chatelet Metro Station, when the violence exploded around them

A crowd of some 1,000 people congregated outside a Caribbean restaurant, where giant speakers and a small stage were set up, but the atmosphere soon turned ugly

‘Gangs of youths had the freedom of the streets to attack and steal from anyone they wanted. Paris is no longer a safe tourist city – it’s like a warzone.’

It all took place during the 35th annual ‘Fete de la Musique’ (Music Party), an event that is meant to be celebration of the arts, with hundreds of thousands taking to the street.

Anne Hidalgo, the Socialist mayor of Paris, and President Francois Hollande are among those who regularly show off the event as a ‘celebration of Paris life’.

Manuel Valls, the Prime Minister, even said this year’s Party was ‘the best response to terrorism’, arguing that people should go out and enjoy themselves, in defiance of threats of violence.

The arrival of thousands of football fans, including many from the UK, as well as ‘ultra’ hooligans from countries like Russia for Euro 2016 is also meant to have improved security’. Above, a man with a head wound

The mob violence is particularly embarrassing for Mr Hollande and Ms Hidalgo, who have pledged to make Paris a safe city again, following the attack by Islamic State suicide bombers brandishing Kalashnikovs

The annual music party is supposed to be a celebration of the art as hundreds of thousands take to the streets. Above a man in a white T-shirt and black backpack tries to help those caught up in the trouble

But the attack on the woman – who has not been identified – paints a very different picture.

She was with a group of friends who attended a rap gig on a street close to Rue de Rivoli, the equivalent of London’s Oxford Street in Paris.

A crowd of some 1,000 people congregated outside a Caribbean restaurant, where giant speakers and a small stage were set up.

But trouble started almost immediately, when a man was set upon by a gang early in the evening, and knocked unconscious.

Video shows him being helped up by other members of the crowd, before he staggers away with a head wound.

The ugly atmosphere grew, as revelers openly smoked cannabis, and drank bottles of beer from nearby supermarkets.

There is a police station close next to Les Halles shopping centre, next door to where the attacks happened, but not a single officer appeared to deal with the trouble.

A gang of Marseille youths launched an unprovoked attack on England supporters earlier this month. A chair was thrown through the air as violence overshadow England's opening match of the Euro 2016 tournament

The carnage in the city saw Russian, French and English fans battling each other in the streets of Marseille

English fans retaliated and threw chairs back at the local hooligans before riot police arrived

At around 1am, the woman and a group of friends were walking in front of an entrance to Chatelet Metro Station, when the violence exploded around them.

‘A gang wearing tracksuits and hoodies began fighting, and the woman and her friends were right at the centre of the chaos,’ said another British witness.

‘The screams were blood-curdling, especially as the police had pretty much given up for the evening.

‘A young man in an orange tracksuit top seemed to be one of the ringleaders. He was kicking and punching all the time.’

The woman, who is wearing a black top and jeans, is initially seen at the centre of the gang, who appear to be stamping on her, and throwing punches.

When she is first punched, one of her friends take revenge, punching the person who hit her. Fist fights then break out all around her.

The woman then gets up, and tries to get away, but then apparently returns to help a friend. It is then that she falls to the floor again, and is again left in a crumpled heap as the kicks and punches pour down.

Tear gas: One Polish fan described the shocking scenes as 'absolute chaos'. Water cannons were used on rioting football fans from Poland and Ukraine as fighting broke out before their Euro 2016 match in Marseille

Drunken English fans were also captured hurling bottles at police and other fans during the violent clashes in the Old Port district of Marseille earlier this month

Riots: It comes as Marseille authorities deployed 1,000 police and 200 private security agents for the match. A surveillance helicopter hovered over the fan zone close to the stadium

A man in a white T-shirt and a backpack could also be seen in the video, trying to help those caught up in the trouble.

He pushes some of the worst aggressors away, before helping the woman to her feet.

Police at the Les Halles station today said they ‘knew absolutely nothing’ about the gang attack, and urged ‘witnesses to come forward’.

The mob violence is particularly embarrassing for Mr Hollande and Ms Hidalgo, who have pledged to make Paris a safe city again, following the attack by Islamic State suicide bombers brandishing Kalashnikovs.