Protests in France lead to nearly 1000 arrests amid tensions

French authorities reported almost 1000 arrests across the country during protests against social injustice over the weekend, marking the second consecutive week of demonstrations. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced the figures late Saturday, noting that further arrests might follow as full reports are compiled. The protests began peacefully but were marred in some areas by violence and clashes between demonstrators and police.

In anticipation of potential unrest, which had previously escalated into riots on October 17, the French government deployed 70,000 police and gendarmes. Officers were equipped with water cannons and armored vehicles, reflecting heightened security measures across major cities.

Efforts to prevent property damage included shop owners in Paris fortifying their storefronts with wooden boards. Certain urban zones were subjected to assembly bans and curfews to mitigate risks of further conflict.

According to the Interior Ministry, approximately 410,000 individuals took part in the nationwide protests on Saturday, with around 110,000 gathering in Paris alone. These figures contrast with those provided by the CGT trade union, which claimed total participation reached 800,000. The protests, initially fueled by demands for better educational resources, have since expanded to address broader grievances, such as the rising cost of living.

Minister Nuñez characterized the demonstrations as generally smooth but identified certain "risk groups" behaving according to a predictable pattern: detaching from main marches to confront security forces. He attributed the disruptive actions chiefly to the "radical extreme left." Participants wearing black and concealing their identities were among those involved in these disturbances.

Throughout the day, the Paris march progressed without incident before tensions flared toward the conclusion. Authorities utilized water cannons and tear gas to disperse unruly elements amid a smoky haze from fireworks. The Police Prefecture of Paris reported an incident where individuals attempted to enter a car dealership, though police intervention prevented any breach.

Elsewhere, similar tensions were documented in cities like Lyon, Bordeaux, and Marseille, with reports indicating tear gas deployment and fires. In Nantes, local authorities detailed damage and looting at a store, leading to six arrests. Critical injuries were reported in two separate incidents in Clermont-Ferrand and Toulouse, both related to confrontations with police.

Source: spiegel.de