Nearly 1,000 arrested as French protests draw hundreds of thousands
Nearly 1,000 people were arrested in France on Saturday during renewed protests that drew hundreds of thousands, following violent demonstrations the previous week. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez confirmed the arrests, noting the number will rise as authorities finalize their assessment. Around 410,000 people participated nationwide, including 110,000 in Paris, according to the interior ministry, though unions reported higher figures. Protests were mostly peaceful, but clashes occurred in several cities, with police using tear gas and water cannons. Nunez blamed "radical far-left" groups for unrest. The demonstrations targeted inflation, school funding, and government austerity plans, with young people joined by other groups. Authorities deployed 70,000 officers over the weekend, and some cities imposed assembly bans. Separate protests in Orleans drew over 10,000 against a far-right party congress.