Thousands rallied on Saturday in France, Spain and Berlin to mark May Day in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic as police scuffled with protesters in Paris and fired tear gas.
A police source said that far-left “black bloc” protesters had repeatedly tried to block the trade union-led march in the French capital, where 46 people were detained.
Some protesters smashed the windows of bank branches, set fire to dustbins and threw projectiles at police, who responded with volleys of tear gas and stingball grenades.
About 5,000 police were deployed in Paris, a police source said.
The CGT union said nearly 300 May day protests were planned around the country. It later claimed a total national turnout of 170,000, with 25,000 rallying in the French capital.
The French interior ministry put the national figure at 106,000 and the Paris turnout at 17,000.
The crowds held placards with different demands, ranging from the end of the nighttime curfew in place as part of coronavirus restrictions, to a halt to unemployment reforms due to come into force in July.
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