Nearly 1,000 arrested across France after protest clashes
Clashes in Paris, Marseille and Bordeaux as police use tear gas and water cannon and arrests approach 1,000.
Nearly 1,000 people were arrested during today's protests across France, authorities said, as hundreds of thousands again took to the streets and clashes erupted in several cities.
Police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse demonstrators in multiple locations, including in Paris. In Marseille, barricades were set on fire, and in Bordeaux some protesters tore fixtures from a shop.
Numbers and official estimates
The Ministry of the Interior reported about 410,000 participants on Saturday, while unions put the figure closer to 800,000. About 70,000 police officers were deployed nationwide to try to prevent protests over the cost of living and poor school conditions from descending into widespread disorder.
“By comparison, at the same time during the protests on October 17 there were 385 arrests”, said the French minister.
Authorities carried out large-scale operations in several urban centres, with arrests concentrated around the flashpoints of violence. Local officials warned that some demonstrations became violent despite attempts to keep them peaceful.
Government and union leaders are expected to respond to the new wave of protests in the coming days as pressure builds over living costs and public services.
Photo: press material from the event
