Thousands of Frenchmen — angry over President Macron’s imposition of a carbon tax meant to bring France into compliance with the Paris Climate Accord — rioted again this weekend, protesting the higher costs on fuel.
Macron has called the higher fuel prices a necessity for weening France off of fossil fuels and funding new green energy programs.
The protests again turned violent, with a protester stealing a police officer’s rifle, dozens of cars torched, including police cars.
Police used tear gas and water canons to disperse the crowds.
Below are some of the most shocking clips of the violent protests:
The French police even mounted snipers to control the protests:
Protesters flip one of many cars:
A protester whose face was bloodied is scene amidst the chaos:
More footage of Paris burning Sunday morning:
Here are clips highlighting the destruction:
Another car flipped:
French President Macron is accusing the protests of being organized by the right-wing National Assembly Leader Marine Le Pen. Macron, who is currently attending the G20 in Buenos Aires, vowed that protesters would be held accountable for their actions.
The AP reports that the new tax comes at the same time as another EU-based fuel tax:
The anger is mainly over a hike in the diesel fuel tax, which has gone up seven euro cents per liter (nearly 30 U.S. cents per gallon) and will keep climbing in coming years, according to Transport Minister Elisabeth Borne. The tax on gasoline is also to increase four euro cents. Gasoline currently costs about 1.64 euros a liter in Paris ($7.06 a gallon), slightly more than diesel.