French police clash with protesters in Paris May Day rally Wednesday May 01,2019

Police have fired tear gas to push back masked demonstrators in central Paris, as thousands of people used an annual May Day rally to protest against French President Emmanuel Macron's 's economic policies.

Labour unions and so-called "Yellow Vest" protesters were on the streets across France on Wednesday May 01,2019, days after Macron outlined a response to months of street protests that included tax cuts worth around five billion euros ($5.6bn)

In the run-up to the main march in Paris, the city was on lockdown with more than 7,400 police deployed with orders from Macron to take an "extremely firm stance" if faced with violence

Before the main rally took place, police tried to disperse a group of hooded and masked protesters who had converged at the front of the traditional May Day labour union march in Paris

Riot police repeatedly used tear gas and sting grenades to try to control the crowd gathering near Paris' Montparnasse train station

Protesters wearing hoods or yellow vests responded by throwing projectiles at the police. Television footage showed a van with its windows smashed. Local media reports said some people were injured in the clashes

By mid-afternoon, the main march crossing the southern part of the capital was finally able to move amid relative calm.

The yellow vest protests, named after the high-visibility jackets that they wear, began in November over fuel tax increases, but have evolved into a sometimes violent revolt against politicians and a government seen as out of touch.