Photos show Paris streets erupting in protest and 'extreme and unprecedented violence'

Around 36,000 people demonstrated on Saturday, leaving French President Emanuel Macron searching for ways to defuse tensions. Around France, the protests have left

The Protests began as a demonstration against rising gas prices but have evolved into a broader anti-government movement.

While Saturday's protest by the "Yellow Vest" movement had a smaller turnout than those before it, the protests were the most destructive, filling Paris' famous streets and monuments streets with riot police and tear gas.

Scroll down to see what the protests, and their aftermath, looked like.

The "Yellow Vest" protest movement is made up largely of people that are angry about rising fuel taxes and wider inequality in France

The "Yellow Vest" protest movement is made up largely of people that are angry about rising fuel taxes and wider inequality in France BusinessInsider

Saturday's protests took over central Paris. Here, demonstrators are pictured at the Place de l'Etoile.

Saturday's protests took over central Paris. Here, demonstrators are pictured at the Place de l'Etoile. BusinessInsider

Riot police were dispatched to the protests.

Riot police were dispatched to the protests. BusinessInsider

Protestors lit fires near the Arc de Triomphe.

Protestors lit fires near the Arc de Triomphe. BusinessInsider

Macron met with police firefighters on Sunday, and visited damaged buildings in the city.

A woman was wounded by a water canon as protesters clashed with riot police.

A woman was wounded by a water canon as protesters clashed with riot police. BusinessInsider

Teargas surrounded protestors as they demonstrated.

Teargas surrounded protestors as they demonstrated. BusinessInsider

Graffiti that says "the yellow vests will triumph" and disparages President Macron was scrawled on monuments like the Arc de Triomphe.

Graffiti that says "the yellow vests will triumph" and disparages President Macron was scrawled on monuments like the Arc de Triomphe. BusinessInsider

Cleanup operations were underway on Sunday.

Protestors and the police faced off on Paris' streets.

Protestors and the police faced off on Paris' streets. BusinessInsider

Firefighters worked to extinguish flaming cars in the center of the city.

Firefighters worked to extinguish flaming cars in the center of the city. BusinessInsider

President Macron has asked the prime minister and the main political parties to meet with Yellow Vest representatives in an effort to diffuse the situation.

President Macron has asked the prime minister and the main political parties to meet with Yellow Vest representatives in an effort to diffuse the situation. BusinessInsider

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Those surveying the damage on Sunday found that the protests left burned cars and smashed stores in several of the wealthiest neighborhoods of Paris.

Those surveying the damage on Sunday found that the protests left burned cars and smashed stores in several of the wealthiest neighborhoods of Paris. BusinessInsider

The streets were left lined with vandalized and torched cars.

The streets were left lined with vandalized and torched cars. BusinessInsider

Businesses, like this restaurant, were heavily damaged.

Businesses, like this restaurant, were heavily damaged. BusinessInsider

Photos show Paris streets erupting in protest and 'extreme and unprecedented violence'

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