French police are bracing themselves for fresh outbreaks of violence after hundreds of youths rioted over the arrest of an illegal immigrant at a main railway station in Paris.

The rioters fought running battles with police in and around Gare Du Nord for five hours, set light to rubbish bins and smashed nearby shop windows. Witnesses described groups of holiday-makers cowering in fear on the platforms after stepping off trains from London, Brussels and Amsterdam.

The violence was reminiscent of the riots that flared in Paris’s poor suburbs in 2005 when Nicholas Sarkozy, now a presidential candidate, was Interior Minister. François Baroin, who succeeded Mr Sarkozy this week, said that the rioters used “urban guerrilla” tactics. A total of 13 people were arrested.

The violence erupted on Tuesday, during the evening rush hour, after ticket inspectors stopped a 33-year-old man for jumping over a barrier at Gare du Nord Métro station. The man — described by Mr Baroin as an illegal immigrant with 22 convictions — allegedly headbutted one of the inspectors.

Police said that they were surrounded by youths as they went to arrest the man. Nine officers and inspectors were hurt in the fighting, which lasted until about 1am.

Witnesses claim that police officers beat the man. One said: “They were all over him, hitting him time and again.” Another, Anthony Couderc, 20, said: “He was on the ground. People stopped to look and started to protest. Then more and more police arrived. Everyone was disgusted.”

Mr Couderc said that the protest turned violent when “casseurs” (thugs) swarmed the station. “It was different. It was anarchy. Some of them were smashing everything up.”

He saw one group break the window of a shoe shop, which was looted. Another gang attacked a leatherware store.

Amateur videos showed between 200 and 300 youths shouting insults aimed at Mr Sarkozy as they faced a line of riot police standing behind their shields. Witnesses said that police charged several times and used tear gas.

“There was a smell of smoke and tear gas,” said a witness who was returning home after a concert. “I was struck by the sight of a group of tourists, certainly foreigners, cowering and hiding at the end of a platform, completely panicked.”

Mr Sarkozy’s opponents said that his hardline law and order policies were partly to blame as they had exacerbated tensions in ethnic minority communities. Mr Sarkozy said: “We are the only country in the world where people think it’s not right to arrest someone who has not paid for his ticket. If the police is not there to ensure a minimum of order, what exactly is its role?”

Police unions said that the violence highlighted the gulf separating French authorities and suburban youths, groups of whom regularly use Gare du Nord as a meeting point.

2005 clashes

20: nights of rioting

19: provinces affected

8,973: vehicles torched

2,888: people arrested

1: person died

€200m: amount of damage caused

Source: Angus Reid Global Monitor

Times Recommends

• Times Charity Appeal: SolarAid
• Is it Black Monday all over again for Dubai?
• Behind the scenes at the biggest deal