European protests turn violent as 800,000 march in France and Spain

Hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets across Europe on Saturday, with violent scenes erupting in France and Spain, marking a wave of civil unrest driven by economic hardship and political distrust. In France, 800,000 demonstrators marched, including 250,000 in Paris, leading to 1,000 arrests and 500 attacks on police. Around 100 people were also arrested in Spain during separate demonstrations. Peace researcher Marianne Dahl warns that social media-driven mobilization reduces organizers' control, allowing radical groups to exploit protests. She notes that violence weakens public support and that similar unrest could occur in Norway if living conditions worsen and trust in politicians declines.