The Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris was a sea of black and yellow on Saturday as black-clad anarchists used a “yellow vest” rally to run amok, looting shops and torching businesses in scenes reminiscent of the riots that shook the city late last year.
“There are people and there is action. It reminds me of December!” a young protester shouted triumphantly as flames billowed from a bank and thick black smoke rose from burning barricades erected along the famed avenue.
Protesters gathered early on Saturday morning on the Champs-Elysees avenue but it wasn't long before clashes broke out between protesters and police.
Groups of protesters then began looting some of the avenue's designer boutiques including Boss and Longchamp as well as targeting banks and the famous swanky restaurant Fouquet's.
Then certain stores including Longchamp and the restaurant Fouquet's were set ablaze. The violence left the world's most famous shopping street looking like a war zone once again. It was all caught on video and posted on social media.
?Après avoir été détruit plus tôt, le restaurant le Fouquets sur les Champs-Elysées est actuellement en feu. #GiletsJaunes #Acte18 #ActeXVIII #16Mars #YellowVests #Paris pic.twitter.com/vnIdufrnEv
— Charles Baudry (@CharlesBaudry) March 16, 2019
Le Longchamps. Charge des CRS, manifestants reculent. Des anticapitalistes, extrême gauche. #GiletsJaunes #ActeXVIII pic.twitter.com/SaQ0bLwWlQ
— Wladimir Garcin-Berson (@vladogb) March 16, 2019
Newspaper stands on the Champs-Elysees were also set on fire.
Un kiosque à journaux en feu face au Fouquet's sur les Champs-Elysées. Symbole de la défiance envers les médias ? pic.twitter.com/KxtCB9Gfrh par @CharlesBaudry #Acte18 #ActeXVIII #Paris #ChampsElysées
— Natacha Quester-Séméon (@NatachaQS) March 16, 2019
The video below shows looters targeting the Celio store.
La boutique “Célio” est aussi pillée par plusieurs individus #GiletsJaunes #Acte18 @A2PRL pic.twitter.com/F1fAeLWhiR
— Boris Kharlamoff (@BorisKharlamoff) March 16, 2019
Zara was also targeted with clothes thrown out into the street.
Pillage du Zara et le Longchamps brule sous les hourras pic.twitter.com/w4rej5XPOA
— Wladimir Garcin-Berson (@vladogb) March 16, 2019
#BREAKING
A bank was set on fire at #GiletsJaunes protests in ParisLocal sources say #French Police lost control of some areas and had to retreat. pic.twitter.com/GixChPKLyU
— EHA News (@eha_news) March 16, 2019
A policeman was also attacked by numerous individuals as seen in the video below.
PARIS : Un policier a été lynché au sol par plusieurs individus sur les Champs-Elysées (@ClementLanot). #Acte18 #ActeXVIII pic.twitter.com/6ciFp3ws7V
— Infos Françaises (@InfosFrancaises) March 16, 2019
And police cars were attacked and chased off the streets by violent protesters.
PARIS – Plusieurs voitures de police attaquées. Elles ont dû faire demi-tour. Situation très tendue. #GiletsJaunes #ActesXVIII #Acte18 #16Mars2019 #16Mars pic.twitter.com/RJFjR5wIv8
— Clément Lanot (@ClementLanot) March 16, 2019
LES GILETS JAUNES SONT À BOUT HA OUI ET LES COMMERÇANTS ???? Fouquet's, Hugo Boss… : des commerces saccagés et pillés sur les Champs-Elysées https://t.co/irLtbKu8F5
— besnard (@besnardkam1) March 16, 2019
I HOPE THESE MECS ALL DIE OF CANCER FROM THE FLAMES (AND THIER MOTHERS AND FATHERS AND CHILDREN).