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Rioters set fire to a bank and ransacked shops near the up-market Champs-Elysees avenue as France's yellow vest protests against President Emmanuel Macron and his pro-business reforms entered a fourth month. Protesters threw smoke bombs, cobblestones and pounded the windows of a police van, forcing riot police to retreat. Fires were started in nearby streets, with at least one car erupting in flames. The fire department said two people had to be rescued and eleven people suffered minor injuries.

Police used water cannons and tear gas to try to push back protesters. The protesters started off peacefully with some carrying signs expressing solidarity with the victims of Friday’s mosque shooting in New Zealand. But it quickly turned violent and police were forced to arrest more than 120 protesters. Demonstrators looted stores around the Champs Elysees and ransacked the high-end Fouquet’s restaurant, a popular eatery amongst politicians and celebrities, overturning chairs and tables and smashing windows. They also vandalised neighbourhood boutiques, including Hugo Boss and Lacoste.

Tensions erupt in France as riot police fire tear gas at protestors

French riot police forces stand behind a burning barricade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris

A demonstrator throws a cobblestone at riot police forces during clashes near the Arc de Triomphe

Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said thugs looking for trouble had infiltrated the demonstrations and gave the order to respond to “unacceptable attacks with the greatest firmness”. “Let there be no doubt: they are looking for violence and are there to sow chaos in Paris,” Mr Castaner said in a Tweet. He later said there were more than 1,500 “ultra violent” people out looking for trouble. “They decided, perhaps as a swansong, to come attack - and I use their words - Paris,” he said. He added: “I’ve given instructions to the police this morning for great firmness so that nothing slips by."

Protesters clash with French riot police during a demonstration by the "yellow vests" movement

A protester throws a cobblestone at riot police forces during clashes on the Place de l'Etoile

Yellow vest protesters look at the destroyed window of a Hugo Boss shop during clashes in Paris

What started out last November as a backlash against Mr Macron's plan to hike fuel taxes has swelled into a wider movement against the government for ignoring the hardship faced by poorer households in France. Mr Macron, who dropped the fuel tax increase and budgeted an extra €10 billion (£8.65 billion) to help the poorest workers, has also sought to defuse the unrest with a series of town hall-like meetings across France. However, the weekly demonstrations, have been getting smaller since December, when Paris saw some of the worst vandalism and looting in decades. Last week, only around 28,000 people took to the streets across France, according to the authorities. This is just a tenth of the numbers that turned out for the inaugural protest on November 17. But there have been calls from campaigners to up the pressure on the government throughout March.

A Yellow vest protester gestures in front of a newsagent set alight

A Yellow vest protester takes photos of flames rising from a newsagent during clashes with police

A yellow vest protester in front of a newsagent set alight during clashes with riot police

Protesters were out in force today, pouring into the capital from around the country. Interior Minister Christophe Castaner estimated 10,000 people had participated in the protest in Paris, compared with 2,800 the previous Saturday. Elsewhere in France, protesters were estimated at 4,500, compared with 4,200 last week. Over 5,000 police were deployed, along with several armoured police vehicles, and several metro stations were closed. Mr Laurent Casanova, an engineer who was among the protesters, said he had come to mark the end of the national debate. "We have been patient but now we want results," he said.

A protester writes graffiti on the wooden fence outside of the restaurant "Le Fouquet's"

A protester throws a stone during a demonstration by the "yellow vests" movement in Paris