MOSCOW (Sputnik) – French law enforcement bodies have detained 481 people in Paris during the ongoing yellow vests protests against rising fuel prices, French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said on Saturday.
“We have already detained 481 people in Paris, of whom 211 people have been placed under arrest,” the prime minister Edouard Philippe said.
Prior to the official’s announcement, the BFMTV reported that 354 people had been detained, and 127 people out of these 354 had been placed under arrest.
Earlier in the week, the French government stated that it was abandoning the planned tax hike, which triggered demonstrations. However, it has not resulted in protests cancellation.
The “yellow vests” protests, named after the obligatory attribute of French drivers, a yellow light-reflective vest, have been held in France since November 17. Last Saturday, over 100,000 people took part in demonstrations in Paris, with mass actions on the Champs Elysees having resulted in violent unrest.
In late 2017, the French government approved the decision to raise direct tax on diesel fuel, the most popular type in the country. The diesel prices in France have risen by around 23 percent since the beginning of the year, while the gasoline prices have gone up by 15 percent. Prices are set to increase further in January.
Sourse: sputniknews.com
