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More than 500 people have been arrested across France following clashes between protesters and police during nationwide demonstrations against rising living costs, inequality and deteriorating public services.
The protests took place on Saturday (October 31), marking the third consecutive weekend of demonstrations across the country.
Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets, with many wearing Halloween costumes while carrying placards criticising rising prices and government policies.
According to the French Interior Ministry, 565 people were arrested nationwide. The authorities estimated that around 320,000 people participated in the demonstrations, including approximately 70,000 in Paris. Organisers, however, claimed that nearly 500,000 people took part.
Although most demonstrations remained peaceful, violence erupted in Paris and several other cities towards the end of the marches.
In the French capital, masked protesters dressed in black reportedly removed paving stones and hurled them at police officers. Some also threw incendiary devices, including a Molotov cocktail, at security personnel. Police responded with tear gas and baton charges to disperse the crowds.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said a police officer had been struck by a Molotov cocktail in Paris, describing the incident as an attempted murder. Four police officers and one gendarme were injured in the capital, with three suffering burns.
Clashes were also reported in Lyon, France’s third-largest city, where police used tear gas to disperse protesters. In Toulouse, authorities deployed water cannon against an unauthorised demonstration involving several thousand people. Tensions were also reported in Marseille, Bordeaux and other cities.
The authorities had deployed around 70,000 police officers and gendarmes across the country to prevent a repeat of the widespread violence and looting witnessed during earlier demonstrations.
The protest movement initially began with students expressing anger over deteriorating educational facilities, teacher shortages and university admission policies. It later expanded to include trade unions and Yellow Vest activists, with demands focusing on the rising cost of living, economic inequality, civil liberties and the right to protest.
The demonstrations have also taken place against a backdrop of mounting political and economic pressure on President Emmanuel Macron’s government, with the country’s presidential election scheduled for next year.
Student groups have announced plans for further demonstrations and blockades at schools and universities in the coming days.
Authorities have warned that security measures will remain in place amid concerns about further unrest.
Sources: AFP, Reuters and The Associated Press. The Jakarta Post +2
More than 500 people have been arrested across France following clashes between protesters and police during nationwide demonstrations against rising living costs, inequality and deteriorating public services.
The protests took place on Saturday (October 31), marking the third consecutive weekend of demonstrations across the country.
Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets, with many wearing Halloween costumes while carrying placards criticising rising prices and government policies.
According to the French Interior Ministry, 565 people were arrested nationwide.
The authorities estimated that around 320,000 people participated in the demonstrations, including approximately 70,000 in Paris. Organisers, however, claimed that nearly 500,000 people took part.
Although most demonstrations remained peaceful, violence erupted in Paris and several other cities towards the end of the marches.
In the French capital, masked protesters dressed in black reportedly removed paving stones and hurled them at police officers.
Some also threw incendiary devices, including a Molotov cocktail, at security personnel. Police responded with tear gas and baton charges to disperse the crowds.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said a police officer had been struck by a Molotov cocktail in Paris, describing the incident as an attempted murder.
Four police officers and one gendarme were injured in the capital, with three suffering burns.
Clashes were also reported in Lyon, France’s third-largest city, where police used tear gas to disperse protesters.
In Toulouse, authorities deployed water cannon against an unauthorised demonstration involving several thousand people. Tensions were also reported in Marseille, Bordeaux and other cities.
The authorities had deployed around 70,000 police officers and gendarmes across the country to prevent a repeat of the widespread violence and looting witnessed during earlier demonstrations.
The protest movement initially began with students expressing anger over deteriorating educational facilities, teacher shortages and university admission policies.
It later expanded to include trade unions and Yellow Vest activists, with demands focusing on the rising cost of living, economic inequality, civil liberties and the right to protest.
The demonstrations have also taken place against a backdrop of mounting political and economic pressure on President Emmanuel Macron’s government, with the country’s presidential election scheduled for next year.
Student groups have announced plans for further demonstrations and blockades at schools and universities in the coming days.
Authorities have warned that security measures will remain in place amid concerns about further unrest.
