Tear gas and water cannon used as French protests turn violent across cities

French police fired tear gas and used water cannon to disperse protesters in Paris and several other cities at the end of a day that began with largely peaceful rallies over the cost of living and school conditions.

In Paris clashes erupted late on Saturday as a march moved from Porte d’Italie towards Porte de Vincennes, with reports that some in the crowds threw objects at officers. The Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said several thousand radical activists gathered at the rear of the march, including around 500 individuals identified as rioters.

Authorities made nearly 1,000 arrests during the day and deployed some 70,000 police officers across the country, while restrictions were imposed in a number of cities to prevent repeat disorder after last weekend’s widespread rioting and looting.

Protests in Marseille saw makeshift street barricades set alight and rubbish bins burned, and a law enforcement vehicle was seen driving through a burning barricade. In Bordeaux some protesters in dark clothing were observed removing boards from a shop to build a barricade.

Other cities reported unrest and large demonstrations. Lyon witnessed police dispersing about 1,000 people who demonstrated in an area banned by the local prefecture. Toulouse and Clermont-Ferrand were the scenes of serious injuries to two people, authorities said.

Organisers and officials provided differing crowd estimates, with an estimated 410,000 people rallying across France while unions put the number at about 800,000, including 250,000 in Paris. Officials said the number of arrests could rise.

Liberal News Analysis: What Does This Development Mean?

The protests demonstrate sustained national discontent over rising living costs and school conditions, with large peaceful turnouts coexisting alongside more radical elements that escalated to violence in several cities. The scale of police deployment and the arrests reflect authorities’ efforts to prevent a repeat of the previous weekend’s severe disorder while managing simultaneous large demonstrations and localized confrontations. Divergent crowd estimates from officials and unions highlight differing narratives about the protests’ scale and public support.

Quick Glance: What You Need to Know

• Police used tear gas and water cannon in Paris and other cities to disperse protesters.
• Clashes in Paris involved objects thrown at officers and the assembly of makeshift barricades.
• Nearly 1,000 arrests were reported during the day with authorities warning the number may rise.
• Marseille and Bordeaux saw barricades and fires, and a law enforcement vehicle drove through a burning barricade in Marseille.
• Lyon police dispersed about 1,000 demonstrators in a restricted area.
• Two people were reported seriously injured in Toulouse and Clermont-Ferrand.
• Estimated nationwide turnout ranged from 410,000 by officials to about 800,000 according to unions.