In pictures: Bastille Day drama

France's lavish celebrations for Bastille Day are overshadowed by the arrest of a neo-Nazi for firing a shot as President Jacques Chirac passes by.

Chirac was reviewing the troops when France's Bastille Day drama began (AP)

A gunman fired one shot and then reportedly tried to turn the gun on himself (AFP)

Police arrested the man after cries from the crowd, and an officer in civilian clothes removed the rifle (AP)

The parade continued despite the incident, with a spectacular march down the Champs Elysees

The French Foreign Legion was represented in the parade...

...as were soldiers from France's Republican Guard

The parade theme was French-American relations and US military cadets were guests of the government (AFP)