Clashes in Paris as tens of thousands mark May Day

Initial clashes broke out before the main May Day march in Paris, with masked troublemakers hurling projectiles at the police who hit back with teargas and stingball grenades

Paris riot police fired teargas as they squared off against hardline demonstrators among tens of thousands of May Day protesters, who flooded parts of the city Wednesday in a test for France's zero-tolerance policy on street violence.

Tensions were palpable as a mix of labour unionists, "yellow vest" demonstrators and anti-capitalists gathered in the French capital, putting security forces on high alert.