France protests leave widespread damage and 1,800 arrests

Protests over living costs, school conditions and public services were accompanied by clashes, fires and looting across France on Saturday, October 17. Paris police said 855 people were arrested in the capital region, while Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez reported about 1,800 arrests nationwide the following day. He described the figure of roughly 500 injured police officers, firefighters and paramedics as provisional. The demonstrations were largely peaceful, but violence occurred in Paris and other cities. Police used tear gas and water cannon after some people threw projectiles and fireworks. Shops were looted, vehicles and buildings were set on fire, and public offices were damaged. The protests brought together student concerns, including teacher shortages and crowded classrooms, with broader grievances over prices, wages and public services. The Interior Ministry estimated nationwide attendance at 550,000, while the CGT union put the figure at 800,000. The estimates differ, and no settled total is established in the reports. Police said about 110,000 people marched in Paris. In Paris, the prosecutors’ office said 517 people were provisionally in custody early Sunday,...