French prosecutors have opened an attempted murder investigation after incendiary devices were thrown at police in Paris, the Guardian reported on November 1. The attack came as largely peaceful, youth-led protests in several European countries gave way to violence.
The Paris prosecutor’s office said the devices targeted a group of about 15 police officers and gendarmes. Injuries reportedly included second-degree burns. Across France, more than 770 people were arrested after Saturday’s demonstrations, which drew an estimated 320,000 participants. Violence broke out in Paris and several other cities, including Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse.
The demonstrations reflected anger over education, deteriorating public services, housing costs and shrinking economic prospects. In Germany, more than 100,000 people marched in over 30 cities on Saturday in protests led by the Gen Z regelt campaign, which later distanced itself from the violence.
In Frankfurt, Hesse interior minister Roman Poseck said rioters damaged 17 shops, looted five and threw objects including petrol bombs. More than 100 officers were injured and 54 suspects, aged 13 to 29, were arrested. Germany’s interior minister, Alexander Dobrindt, called for tough penalties.
Housing protests in Portugal ended with police forcibly clearing camps in Lisbon and Porto. Demonstrators were demanding the withdrawal of a government bill that would ease evictions and remove rent caps on new leases. In Switzerland, unrest followed unauthorised demonstrations in Zürich and Basel; Swiss media reported that Zürich police used water cannon, teargas and rubber bullets against rioters throwing fireworks, bottles and stones.