Paris protests turn violent after peaceful marches across France

Hundreds of thousands marched across France on Saturday in protests over living costs and inequality, with largely peaceful rallies turning violent in Paris and Marseille by nightfall despite a massive security operation. The Interior Ministry reported 410,000 participants nationwide, though unions claimed the figure was double that. Riot police fired tear gas and water cannon at around 500 hooded youths in Paris, while Marseille saw rubbish fires, rocks thrown at security forces, and stores ransacked. Clashes also erupted in Lyon, Bordeaux, Grenoble, and other cities. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez blamed far-left activists and criminal gangs, noting violence was less intense than a week earlier due to better anticipation. Authorities deployed 70,000 police officers, with central Paris under lockdown as shops boarded up, museums closed, and metro stations shut. The unrest began with student demonstrations last month and spread across Europe, with clashes in Brussels and protests in Italy and Albania. Hard-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon predicted weekly protests until President Emmanuel Macron addresses social grievances.