Police confronted masked rioters in Paris, Marseille and other French cities on Saturday after largely peaceful marches over living costs and worsening public services, the Guardian reported. France’s interior ministry said 565 people had been arrested nationwide by late Saturday.
The ministry estimated national turnout at 320,000, compared with 410,000 the previous weekend, with about 70,000 marching in Paris. The third wave of protests brought together school students, trade unionists and yellow vest activists, whose grievances included inequality and President Emmanuel Macron’s government.
Interior minister Laurent Nuñez said roughly 150 planned demonstrations had been peaceful, but some rioters became intensely violent as rallies ended. He said a Paris riot officer was struck by a petrol bomb. Four police officers and a gendarme were reported injured in the capital.
Near the Paris march’s destination at Porte de Charenton, masked people pulled up paving stones and threw them at police; at least one incendiary device was also thrown. Officers used tear gas and baton charges. Police deployed tear gas in Lyon after protesters threw projectiles, while officers in Toulouse used water cannon against an unauthorised gathering.
Further action was being planned. Student protesters pledged school and university blockades on Tuesday and Thursday, and Union Étudiante representative Sabrine Kharbach said students would join a November 5 demonstration called by workers and unions.
Germany also saw mostly peaceful youth-led demonstrations followed by violence in several cities. Police used water cannon in Cologne after saying officers had been targeted with fireworks. A Reuters witness reported that at least two shops were looted in Frankfurt.