French protests lead to 448 arrests and 53 injured police officers

Protests in France resulted in 448 arrests and 53 police officers injured, according to the Interior Ministry. The demonstrations, held Thursday, drew 575,000 attendees per official figures, though unions reported 1.6 million participants nationwide. The Interior Ministry said marches generally proceeded normally but noted violent radical left-wing groups formed in cities including Rennes, Marseille, Nantes, Lyon, Bordeaux, and Strasbourg. Authorities reported 86 fire-related interventions, with incidents including a burning effigy of a riot police officer in Strasbourg and a stabbing in La Courneuve. Police deployed 70,000 officers to prevent a repeat of October 17, when urban violence led to looting of at least 3,000 shops and building fires. The protests focused on purchasing power and public services.