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France arrests nearly 1,000 as 'Act II' protests turn violent in several cities
More than 400,000 people marched across France on Saturday in a second weekend of mass protests over fuel prices, living costs and President Emmanuel Macron's leadership, with clashes in Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Nice and nearly 1,000 arrests.
Police arrested nearly 1,000 people across France on Saturday as a second weekend of mass protests against the government and the rising cost of living ended in clashes in several cities, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said.
The Interior Ministry put turnout at 410,000 nationwide, including 110,000 in Paris, while the CGT union said both figures were nearly double. Nuñez said officers had faced "an extremely elevated level of violence." More than 70,000 police and gendarmes were deployed.
Paris march rerouted
Authorities banned the unions' planned central route between Bastille and Nation, leaving marchers to walk from Porte d'Italie to Porte de Vincennes on the city's southeastern edge.
At least 24 metro stations were closed, the Louvre and Musée d'Orsay shut for the day, and Art Basel Paris canceled its weekend program. France Unbowed leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon joined the march.
In one moment captured on video, the crowd parted to let an ambulance through.
Clashes after dark
The march was largely peaceful, but as night fell around 500 hooded youths pelted police with stones. Officers responded with tear gas and water cannon.
Lines of riot police pushed through the streets to break up the groups.
Debris from makeshift barricades littered the road as officers advanced.
One officer lost his footing and fell while moving in on protesters.
Other footage shows demonstrators attacking police.
A police officer was injured during one of the interventions.
Police also used pepper spray to push back crowds.
Fires in Marseille and Lyon
In Marseille, a union march was authorized under strict conditions, but clashes broke out later in the day.
Youths dragged large metal sheets across a street to block it, set trash bins on fire and hurled rocks and bottles at riot police.
Several streets in the port city were set ablaze.
In Lyon, where protests were banned in the city center, police fired tear gas to disperse about 150 people as fires burned in the streets.
Far-right attack in Nice
In Nice, where demonstrations were also banned, dozens of members of a far-right group attacked peaceful protesters before police intervened, broadcaster BFMTV reported.
Protesters and far-right groups squared off in the streets of the Riviera city.
Another video shows far-right activists going after demonstrators.
Looting and tension
Some protesters were filmed looting a grocery store.
In another clip, a man drew a gun to protect himself from looters.
Elsewhere, demonstrators blocked a gendarmerie motorcycle.
Palestinian flags in the crowds
Palestinian flags were visible at several marches. In Paris, protesters carrying one were hit by a water cannon.
In Grenoble, Allan Brunon of France Unbowed posed for photos with demonstrators waving Palestinian flags.
Fuel prices and anger at Macron
The movement began on Sept. 15 over diesel prices that climbed to 2.37 euros a liter amid the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, and has widened to include living costs, teacher shortages, the Parcoursup university admissions system and discontent with Macron.
The first nationwide day of action on Oct. 17 ended with 1,200 arrests and 150 police officers injured. Macron has promised more teachers and an overhaul of Parcoursup, but student representatives said talks failed to ease tensions. Activists are calling for an "Act III" on Oct. 31.
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