Paris Erupts in Clashes as 1,000 Arrested Nationwide; Violence Spreads to Nice and Lille
Violent clashes erupted in Paris after a peaceful protest turned into a 45-minute confrontation, with French authorities reporting 1,000 arrests nationwide. Police deployed tear gas and stun grenades against black-clad groups throwing objects and marble pieces. Security forces mobilized 70,000 officers to prevent destruction, while unprecedented fights broke out between right-wing and far-left groups in Nice and Lille. Serious injuries were reported in Toulouse and Clermont-Ferrand, with Interior Minister Laurent Nunez calling the operation a success. The government implemented a maximum security plan, deploying anti-terrorism units and armored vehicles to block parliament and the presidential palace. The Louvre remained closed, and protests also occurred in Lyon, Quimper, Pau, and Orleans, where thousands demonstrated against Marine Le Pen's party congress.