At Least Two Injured as Yellow Vests' Anniversary Rally in Paris Spirals Into Unrest - Videos

PARIS (Sputnik) - The Yellow Vests movement rallied in the French capital on Saturday to mark three years since its creation. The demonstration soon devolved into violent clashes with the police.

At least two people sustained injuries after the police used tear gas and batons against Yellow Vest protesters in Paris, a Sputnik correspondent reported from the scene on Saturday.

The rally started out in the southeastern 12th arrondissement of the French capital. In addition to Yellow Vests, it was joined by opponents of COVID-19 sanitary passes and a group of demonstrators in black attire, known as regular initiators of clashes with the police.

Part of the rally attempted to divert from the scheduled route but was turned back by the police. A group of demonstrators looted a bus stop on their way. After a brief pause, the rally resumed.

The situation has been tense since the start, the correspondent said. The crowd has been aggressive, people have been seen disassembling trash cans, taking out bottles, cans and other objects to throw them at law enforcement officers.

Police used tear gas against the demonstrators, according to the correspondent.

#SputnikVidéo | Du gaz lacrymogène est utilisé par la police peu après le départ de la manifestation des #GiletsJauneshttps://t.co/1e8igEE2Kr pic.twitter.com/iptJNc4ha5

— Sputnik France (@sputnik_fr) November 20, 2021

#SputnikVidéo | Des street medics prennent soin d'un homme allongé lors de la manifestation des Gilets jaunes à Paris. Les causes de l'incident ne sont pas claires pic.twitter.com/R6qQWcMT8e

— Sputnik France (@sputnik_fr) November 20, 2021

#SputnikVidéo | Des street medics emportent sur une civière un homme apparemment blesséhttps://t.co/1e8igEE2Kr pic.twitter.com/g9awAOExTN

— Sputnik France (@sputnik_fr) November 20, 2021

Vandals have been setting fire to rubbish and wooden crates for storing fruit at a closed market on Boulevard Vincent-Auriol. Small fires broke out in several places and firefighting brigades have been dispatched to deal with them.

#SputnikVidéo | Plusieurs départs de feu, l'ambiance reste tendue#GiletsJaunes #Manifs20novembre pic.twitter.com/1BwOWTZYXu

— Sputnik France (@sputnik_fr) November 20, 2021

Also on Saturday, a rally against domestic and sexual violence is scheduled to take place in Paris.

Large-scale protests of Yellow Vests began in France in November 2018 with a demand not to increase fuel tax and gas prices. The movement then expanded the list of demands to incorporate a range of social and political items.

Traditional Saturday protests are often accompanied by riots and clashes with the police.