European Protests Draw Crowds as Clashes Erupt in France, Germany

Demonstrations over living costs and public services drew large crowds across Europe on Saturday, with most marches peaceful but localized clashes reported in France and Germany. French authorities said violence had eased compared with earlier protest weekends, while police reported attacks and arrests. France’s Interior Ministry estimated that 320,000 people demonstrated nationwide, including 70,000 in Paris. Police said rioters at the end of the Paris march attacked officers with Molotov cocktails, injuring three officers and setting a car ablaze. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez described the attack on an officer as attempted murder and said about 150 demonstrations had passed peacefully. Police had arrested 779 people across France by Saturday night, according to authorities, compared with 2,628 on October 17 and 1,314 the previous weekend. Those totals indicate fewer arrests than during the earlier protest days, though police also reported scattered incidents in Paris and Marseille. A national police official said about 70,000 officers had been deployed around the country. In Germany, organizers said more than 100,000 people took part in peaceful demonstrations calling for...