Clashes and more than 500 arrests at France protests

Clashes broke out in Paris and several other French cities on Saturday after hundreds of thousands joined a third weekend of protests over living costs and education, with more than 500 people arrested nationwide, according to the Interior Ministry.

The ministry counted 320,000 demonstrators across France, including 70,000 in Paris. Youth organisations put the national turnout at nearly 500,000. The protests were largely orderly, but clashes followed the Paris march as it reached its destination. AFP journalists saw masked people in black throwing paving stones at police, who responded with tear gas and baton charges.

The Interior Ministry said 565 arrests had been made by 9pm, including 214 during Halloween evening. It reported 116 members of the security forces injured over the day and night, and said 36 shops were damaged and three looted. The ministry’s figures were lower than those it reported for the previous two Saturdays.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez described the marches as largely orderly while condemning the violence. He blamed far-left extremist groups for attacks on security forces. That attribution was the minister’s; AFP reported clashes in Paris, Lyon and other cities, but did not independently identify those responsible.

The protests, involving students, trade unions and other groups, began over rising costs, inequality and deteriorating conditions in education. Their demands have since broadened to include civil liberties and the right to protest. The latest unrest followed earlier riots and looting across France.