By SOPHIA STANFORD, NEWS REPORTER
Updated:
France has experienced yet another day of violent protests, with several cities looted and set on fire as more than half a million people took to the streets.
The demonstrations began over the cost of living crisis, education standards and President Emmanuel Macron's government, with most gatherings peaceful.
However, more than 1,200 demonstrators were arrested as the streets of major cities were turned into a battleground, with widespread riots described as 'apocalyptic'.
Macron will deliver an emergency address to the nation at 7pm following an emergency meeting with ministers today.
Backlash from French opposition
Marine Le Pen, the far-right presidential candidate for the National Rally party, said the troubles showed that Macron's administration was 'running on fumes, exhausted and disoriented'.
'We are experiencing a profound crisis of trust and authority, which poses a threat to democracy', said Le Pen, who leads opinion polls ahead of the election.
Le Pen has blamed ultra-left groups, while Jean-Luc Melenchon head of the far-left France Unbowed party accused authorities of inflaming tensions.
President Macron holding emergency talks
The French President has been holding an Interministerial Crisis Meeting at the Elysee Presidential Palace in Paris, the day after riots and looting on the sidelines of nationwide protests against the high cost of living rocked the nation.
In attendance are France's Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin, France's Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, France's Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, and French Government Secretary General Laurence Marion.
Rioters attack shopkeeper as police admit they've lost control
New looting was reported on Sunday as police battled protesters in a Paris square - one day after nationwide rallies descended into widespread chaos.
A distraught woman was seen begging rioters in Paris not to loot a supermarket.
She was heard asking 'why are you doing this' and screaming 'this is not the cause' as a group of young male rioters push past her into the smashed shop.
The footage then shows the crowd appearing to cheer as the balaclava-clad looters leave with arms full of stolen goods.
The shop was one of many buildings and businesses to be damaged in the demonstrations, as roughly 550,000 protesters took to the country's streets.
Latest pictures from Paris
Police have been battling protesters in a Paris square and new looting was reported Sunday, one day after nationwide rallies descended into widespread chaos and looting.
Several hundred people gathered in the Republique square in Paris following social media calls for a gathering.
Place de la Republique in Paris is a habitual gathering site for protests, and was the scene of widespread clashes and pillaging Saturday.
The Paris police prefecture said the latest demonstration had not been approved and police 'carried out checks' and 'put a security arrangement in place' to be able to 'intervene quickly if needed'.
'Faced with the initial signs of tension' police moved in 'to disperse (the crowd) and make arrests', the prefecture added.
Some 855 arrests were made in Paris on Saturday when several buildings and stores were looted and set alight amid pitched battles between police and masked demonstrators.
Tear gas was fired a first time at the Republique square on Sunday to break up the rally, according to television images, but the protesters returned.
Bottles and rocks were said to have been thrown at security forces who responded with tear gas and stun grenades.
Police charged the crowd to try to break it up and several arrests were made.
Demonstrators put up banners around the statue at the heart of the square complaining about the cost of living. Many were dressed in black and some were masked.
Welcome
Good evening, welcome to the Daily Mail's live blog covering the unrest in France.
We will be bringing you the latest updates throughout the night, with President Macron set to speak to the nation at 7pm after another violently-charged day of protests.