President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday called for calm after 150 people were arrested and public buildings were attacked by angry protesters over the killing of a teenager by the police.

Cars and bins were torched in parts of Paris, as protesters launched fireworks at riot police, who fired flashball projectiles, in order to disperse the angry crowds.

Branding the overnight clashes as unjustifiable, Macron told a crisis meeting of ministers that the march in memory of Nahel in Nanterre should be marked by contemplation and respect.

"The last few hours have been marked by scenes of violence against police stations, but also schools and town halls... against institutions and the Republic," he said.

The teenager, Nahel, was shot in the chest at point-blank range in the Paris suburb of Nanterre on Tuesday in an incident that has reignited debate in France about police tactics, which had been long criticised by rights groups.

The violence, seems to be a deeply troubling development for Macron who had been looking to move past a half-year of violent protests that erupted over his controversial pension reform.

A video circulating on social media showed two policemen standing by the side of the stationary car, with one pointing a weapon at the driver.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin wrote on Twitter as he announced the 150 arrests figure that the violence was "intolerable".