Police out in force and France on riot alert as thousands protest against immigration policies

Riot police were out on the streets in force in major cities across France today as thousands took to the streets to protest against the country’s hardline immigration policies.

It follows a number of violent incidents in Paris on Thursday as students blockaded colleges following the high-profile deportation of a Roma gypsy.

Leonarda Dibrani, 15, was taken off a school bus by police in front of her class mates and then sent back to Kosova last week.