Assed, dozens of hooded protesters hurled projectiles at riot police, smashed up shop windows, torched cars on burned barricades during a demonstration against police brutality.

Police fired back volleys of tear gas.

Thousands had set out marching peacefully before the clashes erupted to urge French President Emmanuel Macron's ruling party to scrap a draft security law they fear would curb civil liberties.

Bill would restrict rights to circulate images of police officers on duty, which critics say would make it harder to hold the police to account in a country where rights groups alleged systemic racism.

A backlash against the law was intensified by the beating of a black man, music producer Michelle Zeca, by several police officers.

The incident was captured on CCTV and mobile phone footage that went viral and headed news bulletins.