Clashes between protesters and police were reported in several French cities on Saturday during nationwide demonstrations, with police using tear gas in Lyon and Grenoble, as around 15,000 people took part in 65 actions across France, according to local media.
In Lyon, tensions emerged after some demonstrators tried to leave the authorized route and move toward the city center near Place Jean Mace, prompting police to use tear gas, according to broadcaster France info.
The prefecture later put the number of demonstrators at 19,000 and reported that one person had sustained a minor leg injury and six had been arrested.
In Grenoble, southeastern France, police also used tear gas after initial tensions near Place Gustave Rivet, where a march was split into two.
The Isere prefecture said 7,300 people took part and that a group of 200 people it described as “black bloc” had temporarily split the march and thrown projectiles toward police.
In the port city of Marseille, clashes broke out at the front of an unauthorized march, with protesters throwing paving stones at riot police blocking Boulevard Chave.
Officers responded by charging the crowd, while the march continued toward Saint-Charles train station.
The local prefecture estimated that up to 10,000 people had taken part and said tensions emerged around 4 pm (1500GMT), when projectiles were thrown toward police.
Scuffles between protesters and police were also reported in Toulouse, Rennes, and Nantes.
In Paris, a march that began at Porte de Bagnolet reached Porte de Charenton, the endpoint of the authorized route.
The march was peaceful, but clashes broke out at the end of the demonstration in the 12th arrondissement.
An explosive device struck a police officer, with the Interior Ministry saying 200 to 300 “rioters” confronted law enforcement.
Despite these incidents in numerous cities, in mid-afternoon the Interior Ministry described the situation nationwide as “generally calm, with no notable incidents.”
The figures were lower than those seen during previous mobilization days, with 37,000 participants in 108 actions on Oct. 24 and 67,000 people in 198 actions on Oct. 17, the Interior Ministry said.
According to Interior Ministry figures at 5 pm (1600 GMT), 320,000 people took part in demonstrations across France, including 70,000 in Paris, while the youth trade union alliance estimated nationwide turnout at nearly 500,000, including 200,000 in the capital.
Police counted 11,000 demonstrators in Bordeaux, while unions estimated 70,000.
The Interior Ministry reported 296 detentions nationwide by 6 pm (1700GMT).
The Paris police prefecture said 61 people had been detained in the capital by 6.45 pm (1745GMT). Interior Minister Laurent Nunez later announced that 422 people had been arrested nationwide.
In its 6 pm (1700GMT) update, the Interior Ministry said “radical elements” groups had attempted to enter city centers in several cities to cause damage and loot, adding that clashes were ongoing.
The number of arrests also fell sharply from 217 recorded at the same time on Oct. 24.
France on Saturday was holding its third day of social mobilization in three weeks, with authorities describing the day as “high risk” ahead of Halloween, falling on Oct. 31.
The ministry said security arrangements remained adapted to the situation and warned that police would show “the greatest firmness” toward anyone responsible for violence or damage.
Curfews were also imposed in parts of Paris, Lyon and Grenoble, as well as several towns in northern France.
In Tours, an administrative court overturned a planned curfew but maintained a ban on demonstrations.
