French prosecutors opened an attempted murder investigation on Sunday after incendiary devices were thrown at security forces during protests in Paris, Al Jazeera English reported. Images from the demonstrations showed an officer’s lower body engulfed in flames.
The attacks occurred amid clashes on Saturday, when hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated in Paris and other French cities for a third consecutive weekend over rising living costs and worsening public services. The Paris police prefecture said several hundred rioters attacked security forces with projectiles.
According to prosecutors, explosive devices targeted about 15 gendarmes as well as police officers. Authorities were still assessing injuries, which included reports of second-degree burns. Investigators were working to identify those responsible, and prosecutors said nobody had yet been arrested in connection with the incident.
The gendarme shown being struck told broadcaster RTL anonymously that his unit faced bottles, paving stones and firebombs. He described his leg and shin protection melting, but said his injuries were minor. RTL also reported that the gendarmerie counted 13 injured members of his unit.
Separately, the Interior Ministry reported more than 770 arrests nationwide and 159 law enforcement personnel injured during protests and Halloween celebrations. Those broader figures were not presented as totals for the Paris firebomb incident.