French authorities have reported 511 arrests nationwide as of 8 p.m. local time, as clashes continued following demonstrations across the country. The Interior Minister, Laurent Nuñez, stated that 40,000 security checks were conducted nationwide, with 15,000 of those checks taking place in the Ile-de-France region, which includes Paris. The checks were mainly carried out to prevent people from carrying objects that could serve as weapons.
The clashes erupted in several cities, including Paris, where violence broke out near Porte de Charenton as the authorized march reached its final point. Masked demonstrators dressed in black used hammers to remove paving stones and threw them at police, while others hurled projectiles, including a Molotov cocktail, at security forces. The attack left a mobile gendarme with serious burns to his leg, according to the National Gendarmerie.
The Interior Minister described the operations as effective and deterrent, but stated that police operations would now shift from managing authorized demonstrations to dealing with smaller, scattered groups. Nuñez warned that some groups wanted to reach Bastille and could attempt to break through police lines to loot businesses and cause damage. Authorities remained vigilant throughout the night, adding that the day's events were not over.
The violence was not limited to Paris, as authorities reported attempts by groups to enter city centers in Bordeaux, Toulouse, Rennes, Lille, Nantes, Marseille, and Lyon to damage property and loot businesses. Security forces prevented several such attempts, using tear gas during clashes in Lyon and Marseille and deploying water cannons against an unauthorized gathering in Toulouse.
In Grenoble, clashes followed police efforts to clear the demonstration's endpoint at Paul-Mistral Park. According to Le Monde, at least two young men suffered injuries during arrests. The Interior Ministry counted 320,000 demonstrators nationwide, including 70,000 in Paris, while youth organizations estimated turnout at nearly 500,000.
The events were further complicated by online calls for evening gatherings on Halloween, including messages urging violence and looting. Authorities banned gatherings linked to these calls, and restrictions around Place de la République and Les Halles in Paris will remain in force from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday nights.
The attack on the gendarme was widely condemned, with Jordan Bardella, leader of the National Rally, calling for severe punishment for the person responsible. Bruno Retailleau, former interior minister and Les Républicains presidential candidate, also condemned the attack and described it as an attempted murder.
Key points
- 511 arrests were reported nationwide as of 8 p.m. local time.
- 40,000 security checks were conducted nationwide.
- A gendarme suffered serious burns to his leg after a Molotov cocktail was thrown at police.
