At least 1,314 people arrested in weekend protests across France
France's interior ministry said 1,314 people were arrested during protests held over the high cost of living, with 53 police officers hurt in clashes. It was the second weekend in a row of unrest in the country.
French police arrested 1,314 people during weekend protests nationwide, the interior ministry said on Sunday. Mass demonstrations over the high cost of living took place in major cities on Saturday, and violence erupted on their margins. In the clashes, 53 police officers were injured.
It was the second consecutive weekend of unrest in France. The country is heading toward presidential elections in April and May to pick a successor to President Emmanuel Macron, who is approaching the limit of two terms in office.
Fires and looted shops
The ministry said police responded to 75 fires during Saturday's protests and that 24 shops were looted. Its statement said several investigations had been opened but gave no details. According to the ministry, the rest of Saturday night, once the clashes had subsided, was calm.
Injured protesters
The ministry's Sunday statement did not say how many protesters were injured. Late on Saturday, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez mentioned two serious injuries among demonstrators: one in Toulouse and one in Clermont-Ferrand.
The Toulouse prefecture told AFP that a 20-year-old man suffered a serious hand wound. A street medic who treated demonstrators said, on condition of anonymity, that the man had several fingers blown off his right hand. The prefecture covering Clermont-Ferrand said a man there also had a hand injury but did not lose any fingers.
The regional daily La Nouvelle République reported that a man in Poitiers was wounded in his left eye. The paper's photographer told AFP the man was 19 and was hurt when riot police charged, firing stun grenades and tear gas.
In recent weeks, during student protests in France, there have been several cases of people being maimed by police stun grenades or tear gas grenades. It is not known whether Saturday's reported injuries came from those weapons. Officials said investigations had been opened in at least some of the cases.
