Famous Paris restaurant targeted during gov't pension reform protests

PARIS, FRANCE - APRIL 6: The famous La Rotonde restaurant in Paris was attacked during protests against the government's pension reform on Thursday. A rally against the government's pension reform started Thursday afternoon in the capital. This is the 11th day of planned mobilization since January, with thousands of workers protesting and walking out in various sectors, including transportation, energy, and education. Some groups attacked La Rotonde restaurant, considered one of President Emmanuel Macron's favorite venues after he celebrated the first round of the 2017 presidential elections there. A fire was started near La Rotonde, and firefighters intervened immediately, local media reported. Protesters threw projectiles at police officers and color paint at the restaurant's windows, an Anadolu correspondent said, adding that police used tear gas to disperse the violent groups. Protests were held in other cities as well, including Lyon, Rennes, and Marseille. Police have arrested eight people so far, according to the daily Le Figaro. A group of protesting railway workers entered the premises of the multinational asset management company BlackRock – the historic Centorial building, the same source added. They started chanting in the hall of the building which symbolizes banks and wealth for them, Le Figaro also said. The group left the building shortly after and headed to Place de la Concorde square, near the National Assembly. French authorities expect up to 800,000 protesters, including 90,000 in Paris, broadcaster BFMTV said. A total of 11,500 police officers are deployed in the country to intervene in possible troubles, including 4,200 in Paris, the Interior Ministry said, according to Le Figaro.(Footage by Mohamad Salaheldin Abdelg Alsayed /Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)