Paris police fired tear gas and water cannons on Saturday during a street battle with thousands of protesters who gathered in rage over rising car fuel prices and President Emmanuel Macron’s economic policies.

The so-called “yellow vest” protests across France started last week.

As nightfall came to Paris, fires and explosions hit Champs-Elysees avenue, which is in the middle of Christmas shopping season.

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According to CNN, the protests started over fuel prices but have escalated because Macron now has only a 25 percent approval rating and the nation’s economy is struggling.

“This is not the scene you would expect on a Saturday night,” a CNN reporter said.

Video posted by onlookers showed flames shooting several stories into the air, explosions rocking entire blocks and firefighters turning their hoses on to blast protestors.

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clashes continue at the Champs Elysees in Paris as police uses water cannon, tear gas, to prevent yellow vest protesters from marching to presidential palace #GiletsJaunes pic.twitter.com/z1oqjR6qjF — Jorge Martin (@marxistJorge) November 24, 2018

VIDEO: An explosion rang out at a protest barricade in central Paris as violent clashes erupted on the #ChampsElysees, where thousands of yellow vest-wearing protesters angry at fuel tax hikes battled with police #YellowVests #GiletsJaunes pic.twitter.com/bHwfrsJGtc — AFP news agency (@AFP) November 24, 2018

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Watch CNN’s report live from France below.