A mother and child had to be rescued by firefighters after a bank was set on fire by yellow vest protesters in Paris.

The parent and youngster were on the second floor of the seven-storey building in the upmarket Champs-Elysees area when the fire started.

Image: The woman and child had to be rescued from the second floor

Florian Lointier, spokesman for Paris firefighters, said the flames were at risk of engulfing the family's floor when they were plucked to safely, along with other residents.

He said 11 people suffered minor injuries, including two firefighters.

Image: A man wearing an Emmanuel Macron mask on his back takes part in the protests

The fire came amid widespread protests in the French capital, with several fires seen alight in the landmark district.


Luxury stores were smashed up, kiosks set ablaze and the Arc de Triomphe overwhelmed by demonstrators whose four-month protest is about falling living standards, unemployment, stagnant wages and income inequality.

Image: The window of a Nespresso store is smashed

Image: A Lacoste store had its windows smashed during the protests

Among the stores hit were the Hugo Boss and Lacoste shops, which were ransacked with mannequins thrown out of the broken windows.

A posh restaurant called Fouquet's, which is associated with politicians and celebrities, was vandalised and set on fire.

Image: Protesters smash down the outside of a bank

Image: Boss was also targeted

A vehicle was set on fire outside luxury boutique Kenzo, also along France's most prestigious shopping street.

The violence started when protesters ripped up cobblestones and threw them and smoke bombs at officers.

Image: Yellow vest protesters hurl cobblestones ripped out of Paris's streets

Image: Cobblestones litter the ground as police attempt to keep order

Police responded with tear gas and water cannons as firecrews attempted to extinguish the blazes.

Authorities estimated about 7,000 to 8,000 took part in the protests, with a hardcore of 1,500 responsible for the violence.

Image: An injured protester receives treatment as he lies on the ground

More than 60 people had been arrested by early afternoon.

Interior minister Christophe Castaner said he had ordered police to retaliate against "inadmissible" acts, and condemned those who called "for violence and are here to ferment chaos in Paris".

Image: A protester in front of a burning kiosk

Image: A protester near the Arc de Triomphe

A second protest flagged The March of the Century was also taking place with the aim of urging governments to act against climate change.

Greenpeace France CEO Jean-Francois Julliard said his organisation had some similar aims to those of the yellow vest protesters.

Image: A march with the aim of highlighting the danger to the climate was called The March of the Century

He said: "We are gathering under the banner 'environmental and social emergency'. So today we are creating the link, like maybe we have never done it before, between the climate movement and the social movements.

"Between the message carried by the yellow vests and the message carried by environmental organisations. Because we realised we have many things in common, many similar messages."

Image: Emmanunelle Beart (centre), star of Manon des Sources, took part in the march

The French president, 41-year-old former investment banker Emmanuel Macron, has launched a series of national debates which are aimed at determining what polices people want the government to focus on.