France's October 24 protests: Interior Ministry figures reveal strategic shift

France recorded 1,314 arrests and 75 fire-related interventions during Saturday's protests, down sharply from the previous week, according to provisional Interior Ministry figures released Sunday. The ministry reported 53 police officers injured and 24 shops looted, compared to 1,144 injuries and 1,522 shops affected on October 17. It counted 289 street actions drawing 410,000 participants, versus 441 events and 550,000 attendees the prior week. Authorities credited improved anticipation and mobile police positioning for curbing radical groups' actions, implicitly acknowledging last week's security failures. Clashes occurred in several cities including Paris, Marseille, and Toulouse, with multiple investigations opened.