Violence Flares in Paris and Marseille After Largely Peaceful Protests Across France

Hundreds of thousands of people marched across France on Saturday, and while most rallies stayed calm, clashes broke out in Paris and Marseille once night fell. The Interior Ministry counted 410,000 participants nationwide, though unions say the real number was double. The biggest gathering was on the southeastern edge of Paris, where at least 110,000 people protested rising living costs and inequality. Afterward, riot police used tear gas and water cannon on about 500 hooded youths. In Marseille, young people burned rubbish bins to block roads and threw rocks and bottles, and several shops, including two jewellery stores, were ransacked.

Paris in Lockdown as 70,000 Police Deploy

Authorities put 70,000 officers on the streets, 10,000 more than a week earlier, after admitting they underestimated the unrest on October 17. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said the violence was milder than last weekend and credited better anticipation. He blamed far-left activists and criminal gangs, and said far-right activists sought clashes with leftists in Nice and Montpellier. Shops were boarded up, more than 20 metro stations closed, and the Louvre, Musee d’Orsay and Paris Opera shut for the day. Clashes also hit Lyon, Bordeaux, Grenoble, Lille, Rennes, Nantes, Toulouse and other cities.

Protests Spread Across Europe as Political Pressure Builds on Macron

The movement began last month with small student protests over school conditions and grew into a wider revolt against government economic policy. On Saturday, Belgian police used tear gas in Brussels, and demonstrations also took place in Italy and Albania. Hard-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon warned the protests will repeat every week until Macron addresses the social anger. Many protesters said the government overreacted, while tensions were also raised by Friday’s shooting west of Paris, which killed one person and wounded four, including a 12-year-old girl. In Orleans, a peaceful march opposed the National Rally’s party congress.