Yellow Vests continue protests across Europe

By Yusuf Ozcan, Abdullah Asiran and Atila Altuntas

PARIS/MAASTRICHT/STOCKHOLM

French Yellow Vest protesters as well as their Dutch and Swedish counterparts took to the streets again on Saturday amid the latest in demonstrations rocking the region.

Demonstrating against police brutality and the use of tear gas, several protesters marching to the center of Paris were wounded by tear gas launched by security forces who then cracked down on the marchers in Place de la Republique arresting 10 amid the 12th week of country-wide demonstrations.

Tensions were also high in the towns of Nantes and Valence where authorities announced the arrest of 18 protesters.

Two police officers were injured during the protests in Nantes.

Paris police headquarters said that a total of 22 people were arrested in Paris.

According to data shared by interior ministry, 58,600 people took part in the protests across France.

A company, named Occurence, said that 13,800 people participated to the protests in Paris.

Some 500 Yellow Vest protesters in the Netherlands held anti-government demonstrations in the city of Maastricht for the 10th weekend.

Police arrested one protester for insulting security forces, while one person hit by a firework was wounded.

Separately, roughly 200 Swedish protesters demonstrated in Stockholm against economic inequality and privatization.

No casualties were reported amid high security measures by police.

Since Nov. 17, thousands of protesters wearing bright yellow vests -- dubbed the Yellow Vests -- have gathered in major French cities, including Paris, to protest French President Emmanuel Macron's controversial fuel tax hikes and deteriorating economic situation.

Demonstrators held protests blocking roads as well as entrances and exits to gas stations and factories across the country.

Under pressure, Macron announced a rise in the minimum wage and scuttled the tax hikes.

Since then, however, the protests have grown into a broader movement aimed at tackling income inequality and are calling for giving citizens a stronger voice in government decision-making.

At least 10 people have died, around 6,000 others have been detained and over 2,000 others have been injured in the protests.

The protests started in France but spilled over to other European countries, including Sweden and the Netherlands.