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Nearly 1,000 people have been arrested across France as protests over the rising cost of living turned violent, with clashes reported between demonstrators and police in several cities.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said on Saturday that law enforcement officers faced what he described as “extremely high levels of violence” from far-left groups during the demonstrations, AFP reported.
Nuñez said the main rallies in several cities remained peaceful, but clashes erupted towards the end as members of far-left groups allegedly threw stones and fireworks at police.
At least two people were seriously injured in Toulouse and Clermont-Ferrand. A 20-year-old man in Toulouse reportedly lost a finger.
The minister said violence was less severe than the previous week, when around 2,700 people were arrested. Looting had also been reported at several shops during the earlier protests.
This time, tighter security at shopping centres and businesses helped limit damage, according to the report.
In Paris, the main march ended peacefully, but repeated clashes broke out between police and demonstrators towards the end. Several thousand radical activists, including around 500 identified as rioters, reportedly gathered and clashed with police for more than two hours.
Far-right activists also took to the streets for the first time in Cannes and Montpellier, saying they wanted to protect businesses. In some places, they reportedly attempted to confront far-left groups directly.
France’s Interior Ministry ordered police to remain on maximum alert through Sunday, October 25, to maintain public order.