French police fire tear gas as protests erupt in Paris, Marseille, and Lyon

New protests erupted across multiple French cities on Saturday, with police firing tear gas and using water cannons against demonstrators who set trash bins ablaze, as nearly 1,000 people were arrested, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez reported. Clashes occurred in Paris at Porte de Vincennes, where police deployed tear gas, water cannons, and stun grenades, while several shops were looted in other cities including Marseille. In Lyon, around 10,000 people gathered despite a protest ban, and authorities deployed over 70,000 security personnel nationwide. Nuñez said authorities were better prepared than last week, noting no attacks on government buildings unlike October 17, though he cautioned "the evening is not over." Police estimated 410,000 protesters participated nationwide, while union CGT claimed 800,000, with some demonstrators in Orléans protesting a far-right party congress.