Paris riots: Masked mob of protesters hurl Molotov cocktails and torch cars over law making it illegal to film police

RIOTS have flared in Paris as a masked mob lobbed Molotov cocktails and torched cars over a contentious law banning the filming of cops.

Scores of hooded anarchists launched projectiles at riot cops, smashed up shop windows, and burned barricades during today's demo against police violence.

Thousands of people had begun marching peacefully in the French capital when the clashes suddenly erupted.

There were face-offs between cops and pockets of protesters, most of whom were dressed in black and had their faces covered, reports Reuters.

Some used hammers to break up paving stones.

Cops fired back volleys of tear gas as angry protesters were denouncing police brutality.

They were also railing against President Emmanuel Macron’s hated security policy plans which demonstrators slammed for restricting civil liberties.

France has been hit by a wave of street protests after the government introduced a security bill in parliament.

The draft law increases its surveillance tools and restricts people's rights to circulate images of police officers in the media and online.

“We’re heading towards an increasingly significant limitation of freedoms. There is no justification,” said Paris resident Karine Shebabo.

Another protester, Xavier Molenat, added: “France has this habit of curbing freedoms while preaching their importance to others.”

As darkness fell, live TV images showed one group of anarchists ransacking the branch office of a bank.

They could be seen tossing piles of paperwork onto a fire burning on the pavement outside.

Angry protesters waved banners that read “France, land of police rights” and “Withdrawal of the security law”.

Paris police said that some 500 “casseurs” - which translates as hoodlums or rioters - had infiltrated the protest, according to BFM TV.

Twenty-two arrests had been made, the force added.

The new bill was part of the president’s drive to get tougher on law and order ahead of elections in 2022.

His government also claimed that cops needed to be better protected from online hate.

But the draft legislation provoked a public backlash.

It comes after the publicised, brutal beating of a black man, music producer Michel Zecler, by several police officers in late November.

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The attack has intensified anger against cops.

Because of the furore, Macron’s ruling party did a U-turn and said it would rewrite the draft bill curtailing people's rights.

There were peaceful protests in Marseille, Lyon, Rennes and other big cities.