Clashes at Paris May Day rally as demonstrators protest labour reforms

Police fired tear gas after protesters hurled bottles and other projectiles during a May Day rally in Paris Sunday, where controversial labour reforms were the main focus of demonstrations.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators took part in the march in the French capital amid a heightened police presence after several recent protests against labour reforms ended in violence.
There were ugly scenes as a small group of protesters in balaclavas hurled projectiles at the security forces, who responded with volleys of tear gas, bringing the march to a standstill.
Calm was later restored, however, and the majority of those taking part in the demonstration did so peacefully.
Police said between 16,000 and 17,000 people took part in the rally and Paris. The CGT union put the figure at 70,000.
Rallies in other French cities including Nantes, Bordeaux and Marseille passed largely without incident earlier Sunday.
A May Day rally held by Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Front party was crashed by a group of topless Femen protesters.