Police Clashes, Civil Unrest in Paris at French Pension Reform Demonstration

Chaotic scenes in Paris on Thursday, where thousands mobilized for the 12th nationwide day of strikes and protests against the pension reform in France.

Demonstrations against the planned increase of the retirement age have been ongoing throughout France for months, with Paris seeing many heated exchanges and civil unrest in the streets.

Thursday’s events included many violent clashes between crowds and police, with glass smashed, teargas deployed, hand-to-hand punching and more.

The march began at Place de l’Opéra and concluded at Place de la Bastille.

On a personal note from covering, I was hit with some type of brick (seen in the last clip coming at me as a flying projectile in the video) and had to depart to treat this. As such I don’t have video of the full conclusion of the evening. I am feeling a bit better now as of typing this, thankfully.