France Arrests 565 After 320,000 Protesters March and Clashes Erupt in Paris
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Oct 31
France Arrests 565 After 320,000 Protesters March and Clashes Erupt in Paris
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Oct 31
Summary
565 arrests followed renewed clashes across France on Saturday, with police saying masked groups in Paris hurled Molotov cocktails, fireworks and other projectiles at officers.
320,000 people joined nationwide protests, smaller than the previous two Saturdays, but authorities still deployed 70,000 officers and carried out 40,000 spot checks to keep weapons out of march areas.
Paris police used tear gas and water cannons as 200 to 300 black-clad rioters skirmished into the evening; one officer was briefly set on fire in what Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez called attempted murder.
The day had begun with a Halloween-parade atmosphere, but violence also flared in Marseille, Rennes, Nantes, Toulouse, Montpellier, Angers and Tours, underscoring unrest nearly two months into the movement.
Officials said the arrests helped avert worse disorder, yet the Interior Ministry warned violence could intensify after dark as roaming groups remained active in Paris and other cities.