More than 2,000 people have been arrested during violent protests across France, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on Sunday, as clashes between police and demonstrators left hundreds injured and caused extensive damage to businesses and public buildings.
Police fire tear gas as protesters approach Champs-Elysees
The violence has also caused considerable material damage, affecting several hundred businesses, Xinhua News Agency reported. several turned violent, with attacks reported on public buildings, police stations and businesses While the protests were held against rising inflation. Violent confrontations between police and protesters broke out in Paris and several other parts of the country on Saturday.
Protesters set fire to various locations, while looters broke into dozens of shops and stole goods. The unrest comes after weeks of student protests. In Lyon, protesters set fire to a tourist office in the city centre.
More than 600 police officers, gendarmes and firefighters have been injured so far, according to provisional figures cited by the minister. Around 550,000 people took part in demonstrations across France on Saturday. Town halls in Marseille and Lille were also targeted, with demonstrators breaking into the premises and vandalising them before leaving, France 24 reported.
Tens of thousands of people marched across eastern and northern Paris during one of Saturday’s major demonstrations, chanting slogans including “Everyone hates the police” and “Macron, resign”. Demonstrators shouted “all cops are bastards” as police fired tear gas and blocked their advance, according to reports.
