Emmanuel Macron's aide Alexandre Benalla charged over beating a protester at May Day rallies

One of Emmanuel Macron’s top security aides has been charged over allegations he beat a protester during France’s May Day rallies.

The charges came after French authorities opened a judicial investigation over the alleged assault, which has sparked the first major political crisis for Mr Macron since he took office last year.

A judge handed Alexandre Benalla multiple charges including violence, interfering in the exercise of public office and the unauthorised public display of official insignia on Sunday night.

The video, made public by Le Monde newspaper on Wednesday, showed Mr Benalla apparently wearing a police helmet at the May Day protest. He is not a police officer.

Four others were also charged including Vincent Crase, who worked for Mr Macron's party and was with Mr Benalla on the day of the protest, and three police officers who were suspected of illegally passing footage from the event to Mr Benalla.

Mr Crase was handed preliminary charges of violence and prohibited possession of a weapon.

Additional reporting by the Associated Press.