French prosecutors have opened an attempted murder investigation after security forces were attacked with petrol bombs during an Oct. 31 protest in Paris. Prosecutors disclosed the inquiry to AFP on Nov. 1, according to the agency’s report published by The Straits Times.
The prosecutor’s office said explosive devices were thrown at about 15 gendarmes, as well as police officers. Gendarmes belong to France’s armed forces and perform policing duties. Authorities were still assessing injuries, which included second-degree burns.
AFP photographs and video showed an incendiary device exploding near a security officer’s feet in eastern Paris, setting his lower body on fire. The injured gendarme later described his burns and projectiles striking his unit in an interview with French television.
As of Nov. 1, prosecutors said no suspects had been arrested in connection with that incident and investigators were seeking to identify those responsible. Separately, the Interior Ministry reported more than 770 arrests across France during the weekend’s protests.
The unrest followed demonstrations by hundreds of thousands of people during a third consecutive weekend of protests over rising living costs. Clashes occurred in Paris and some other cities. Paris police said several hundred rioters attacked security forces with projectiles; Interior Minister Laurent Nunez condemned the level of violence.
France’s Chambers of Commerce and Industry said roughly 20 businesses sustained damage during the Oct. 31 protests, substantially fewer than on previous weekends. The organization nevertheless warned that disruption could hurt retail trade ahead of the year-end holiday shopping season.