French police detain about 1,000 in cost-of-living protests

French police detained about one thousand people during mass protests against the rising cost of living held nationwide on October 24, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, as reported by BFMTV. Approximately 410,000 people participated in the demonstrations across the country. On October 18, President Emmanuel Macron made an emergency address demanding government action to prevent future protests, promising to punish those responsible for rioting and support affected businesses. The protests began in late September with high school student demonstrations over education issues and spread nationwide, with over half a million people taking to the streets on October 17. Critics, including Macron's opponents and a former president, blamed him for the social discontent.