MASKED anarchists have smashed windows and looted a McDonald's as thousands brought carnage to Paris in May Day protests.

The far-Left agitators chucked petrol bombs through windows and torched cars while others clashed with police.

17 Anarchists destroyed a McDonald's in Paris as thousands took part in the May Day protests Credit: EPA

Some threw rocks at cops in the French capital, who responded with tear gas, as the protest marches to mark International Workers' Day turned violent.

Dramatic pictures show demonstrators wearing masks as they shatter windows at McDonald's before setting it on fire.

"Anti-Capitalist" looters then helped themselves to food and drinks before grabbing cash from broken tills on the charred floor.

Blazing cars can also be seen after thousands flooded the streets to march for the rights of workers around the world.

17 Cars were set alight as the protests turned violent Credit: Reuters

17 Masked protesters threw rocks and bottles at police as tear gas smoke filled the city Credit: Reuters

17 Police clashed with demonstrators during the carnage today Credit: AFP or licensors

17 A protesters clutches a beer while wearing a 'Soviet Suprem' hoody in Paris today Credit: Getty Images - Getty

17 Black smoke filled the air after cars were torched in Paris Credit: Reuters

Hooded protesters also stripped of fireworks during the chaos in Paris today as plumes of thick black smoke billowed across the city.

Elsewhere, Londoners marched through Trafalgar Square holding up pictures of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.

17 Demonstrators protect their faces from tear gas in Paris Credit: Getty Images - Getty

17 The city was filled with smoke today Credit: AFP or licensors

17 A masked agitator hurls a brick in the May Day madness Credit: AFP or licensors

17 Looters stole cash and food from a McDonald's in Paris Credit: AFP or licensors

17 Protesters clashed with police as thousands of workers took to the streets Credit: Getty Images - Getty

The demonstration was against industrial disputes over pay, hours, union recognition and outsourcing.

Workers included staff in a long-running pay dispute at cinema chain Picturehouse, cleaners at the Ministry of Justice campaigning for the London living wage, and cleaners from King's College pressing for work to be brought in-house.

17 Protesters also stormed Trafalgar Square today Credit: Barcroft Media

17 The marches were on International Workers Day Credit: Barcroft Media

In Istanbul, more than a dozen people were detained after attempting to march towards the city's symbolic main square in defiance of a ban on protests there.

Police could be seen using brutal force to arrest the protesters as they defiantly chanted against government reforms.

Around 25 people shouted "Taksim cannot be off limits on May 1" as they made their way to off-limits Taksim Square.

17 Demonstrators in Istanbul were confronted by riot cops as they tried to storm the off-limits Taksim Square Credit: AP:Associated Press

17 More than a dozen people were arrested in Turkey during the clashes Credit: AP:Associated Press

17 Around 10,000 workers rallied near the presidential palace in Jakarta Credit: AP:Associated Press

17 Protesters urged the Government to avoid outsourcing Credit: AP:Associated Press

In 1977, 34 people were killed there during a May Day event when shots were fired into the crowd from a nearby building.

In the Philippines, around 5,000 people gathered together near the presidential palace in Manila to rally over the failure of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to fulfil a major campaign promise to end short-term employment.

Clutching banners branding the president the "Liar King", they also demanded that the government address issues including low wages, unemployment and trade union repression.

Meanwhile in South Korea, thousands protested in Seoul for a higher minimum wage and other demands.

Around 10,000 workers in Indonesia rallied near the presidential palace in Jakarta - urging the Government not to outsource and to raise their wages.

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And in Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh, 2,000 garment workers attended a rally before police stopped them.

In Moscow, more than 100,000 descended on the streets to march in the traditional May Day parade, while several hundred people in St. Petersburg held their own protest against the Government's ban of messaging app Telegram.

International Workers' Day - also known as Labour Day - celebrates the rights of workers around the world.