This story has moved on: Hundreds of thousands march across France in renewed weekend protests

Summarised from 3 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 25 Oct, 20:37 · Archive

French authorities detained 1,314 people during nationwide protests on Saturday over rising costs and public services.

More than 400,000 people took to the streets across France on Saturday in hundreds of demonstrations against the rising cost of living and public services. Security forces including police in riot gear were deployed in large numbers to prevent a repeat of violence seen the previous weekend. Most of the marches remained peaceful.

However, clashes broke out in several cities including Paris, Marseille, Bordeaux, Toulouse and Tours. Police used tear gas during confrontations. French authorities detained 1,314 people nationwide, according to the Interior Ministry. The ministry said 53 police officers and other security personnel were injured. Firefighters responded to 75 fires and 24 businesses were looted.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said members of 'ultra-left' groups threw projectiles and fireworks at police in an attempt to provoke clashes. The ministry blamed radical far-left activists for confrontations along or near protest routes. It did not provide a figure for injured protesters.

The reported arrests and violence were substantially lower than the previous week, when authorities recorded 2,628 detentions and 1,144 injured security personnel. Union and protest leaders said anger over wages, living costs and public services was bringing together students, workers, firefighters and other groups. Solidaires co-leader Murielle Guilbert told broadcaster BFM TV: 'We see an aggregation of anger.'

The government has opened talks with unions and student representatives, but protest leaders say its proposals are inadequate. French unions and protest groups have called for fresh demonstrations on October 31 and a nationwide strike on November 5. The Yellow Vests movement also called for rallies, including sit-ins outside town halls and the National Assembly.

How it is being reported

• France: 1.314 arrested during protests across the countryFrance saw another day of nationwide protests on Saturday, with more than 400,000 people taking to the streets over the rising cost of living and school funding. Most marches remained peaceful, a week after riots and looting hit several cities. However, police say more than 1,300 people were arrested nationwide as violence broke out on the sidelines of demonstrations. Caroline Baum has more.France 24 · 25 Oct, 16:32
• France: 110.000 protesters in ParisHundreds of demonstrations took place across France on Saturday over the rising cost of living, with security forces deployed in large numbers to prevent a repeat of the violence seen last weekend. While the marches themselves “passed off well” in several cities, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said members of “ultra-left” groups threw projectiles and fireworks at police in an attempt to provoke clashes. French Communist Party spokesperson Fatima Khallouk shares more details.France 24 · 25 Oct, 15:00
• Up to 70,000 officers deployed across France to combat riotsThousands of police officers in riot gear descended on Paris Saturday to monitor France’s only sanctioned protest. The officers — wearing helmets and carrying shields — uniformly walked through the city as protesters shouted obscenities at them.New York Post · 25 Oct, 14:12
• France: Hundreds arrested after nationwide protestsThe French government says more than 1,000 people were arrested following nationwide protests on Saturday. Police and elite security forces were out in force across the country as clashes broke out.DW News · 25 Oct, 12:05

In this story: France · Interior Ministry · Solidaires · CGT · Laurent Nuñez · Murielle Guilbert · SUD Education · Yellow Vests

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