A protester wearing yellow vest, a symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher fuel prices, burns flare on the Champs-Elysee in Paris, France, on November 24, 2018. (Photo: Reuters)

They tore down street signs, erected barricades, and brought along masks and protective glasses, and lit fires on the avenue. The traffic was gridlocked in adjacent areas.   

Police said 8 demonstrators were arrested for throwing projectiles. 3,000 policemen were deployed to Paris and nearby cities. Interior Minister Christophe Castaner blamed the clashes on organizers of the “Yellow Vest” demonstration, which has killed two people and injured 620 others in the past 2 weeks, including 136 police. 17 of the injured are in critical conditions.