Rioters use MORTARS to fire explosives at French police as violence rages on after humiliated Macron takes away visit from Charles

FRENCH rioters have used mortars to launch explosives at police during a wild protest as violence raged across the country.

The chilling scenes unfold as Charles and Camilla canceled their official state visit to France, leaving President Emmanuel Macron humiliated.

13

13

13

13

Riot police officers and demonstrators clashed during a demonstration against the construction of a water reservoir for agricultural irrigation in Sainte-Soline on Saturday.

About 3,200 police officers, some in helicopters and on quad bikes, have been deployed to the rural city in western France, according to authorities.

The footage showed the moment the barbarism broke out, as the cops were pounded by a barrage of projectiles.

The farmland soon turned into a “war zone,” where plumes of smoke shot up into the air as smoke grenades and Molotov cocktails exploded.

The armored police fought back, firing tear gas and stun grenades to ward off the protesters.

At least three police vehicles were also set on fire.

Emmanuelle Dubee, the prefect for the surrounding region, said at least 6,000 protesters were involved in the incident.

He claimed the activists had defied a ban on protests at the site, where a similar protest last October also turned violent.

Gerald Darmanin, France’s interior minister, said an official and a protester are in critical condition as a result of the day’s violence.

However, the total carnage amounted to seven protesters and 24 injured police officers.

The French minister said the violent clash was sparked by a mob of far-left activists who began revolting on Friday.

As a result, 12 people were arrested, but that was not enough to quell the barbaric scenes that unfolded today.

The controversial Sainte-Soline water reservoir is one of 16 structures developed by a group of farmers to relieve pressure on water pipes in the summer.

France suffered its worst drought on record last year, leading to divided public opinion about the use of water resources.

Agriculture advocates claimed artificial reservoirs were an efficient way to use water on demand.

But critics hit back, calling them “mega tanks” and arguing they were oversized and favoring large farms.

13

13

13

The uprising against the irrigation project stems from weeks of demonstrations against pension reforms pushed by the French government without a final parliamentary vote.

Mass protests across the country have turned sinister in some regions of France as historic town halls have been torched.

As a result, President Macron decided it was not safe for the king and queen to travel to his country after paint daubed guillotine and death threats.

The graffiti — “Death to the King” and “Charles III, do you know the guillotine?” — appeared on the Place de la Concorde in Paris.

Here were King Louis XVI. and Marie-Antoinette among the 1,119 people executed by guillotine after the French Revolution.

But despite the graffiti, there are said to have been no direct threats against the royal couple.

Charles and Camilla were scheduled to embark on a three-day trip to Paris and Bordeaux today.

13

13

13

13

13

13