France yellow vest protests: Fury after demonstrators shout 'kill yourselves' at police in Paris

French yellow vests have sparked fury after shouting “kill yourselves” at police in Paris on Saturday.

This abuse is reported to have happened as tear gas and rubber bullets were fire at protesters, demonstrating in the 23rd consecutive week of chaos across France.

The Paris prosecutor's office said an investigation into the abuse was opened on Sunday.

This would attempt to find perpetrators who might be prosecuted for "group offence toward a person exercising public authority".

France's interior minister Christophe Castaner called it a "disgrace" while pledging his support for police and their loved ones’

Suicides among police in France are known to be on the rise and unions denounced the protesters' call as an unacceptable insult to officers who have killed themselves as well as their grieving families.

Police unions held silent protests on Friday after two officers killed themselves last week while unions say police ranks have seen 28 suicides so far this year, compared to 68 over all of 2018.

The yellow vest movement, named after the high-visibility vests all French drivers must carry in their vehicles, began last November.

It started as a rally against a hike in fuel taxes but has since encompassed other policies put in place by President Emmanuel Macron.

These include high taxes and pro-business legislation.

Protesters see themselves as standing up for the poor while Mr Macron is seen as representing the rich.

The movement has been continually marred by protest violence, with deaths, injuries and severe vandalism taking place.

On Saturday, dozens of motorbikes and cars have been set on fire in eastern Paris as a yellow vest protest descended into violence.

Riot police fired tear gas to try and disperse the protesters around the Place de la Republique.

However, responded by starting fires and throwing flares.

Protesters voiced frustration that the effort to save fire-damaged Notre Dame Cathedral is eclipsing the yellow vest movement's demands.