Paris, Oct 25. (dpa/GNA) – A total of 1,314 people were arrested across France during disturbances on the side lines of weekend demonstrations, and 53 police officers were injured, the Interior Ministry said in an update on Sunday morning.
Security forces responded to 75 attempted arson attacks and 24 cases of looting, the ministry said, adding that the night had passed peacefully.
France had braced for more unrest on Saturday, after cost-of-living protests held the previous weekend, ended in serious rioting and violence.
A total of 70,000 officers were deployed to avoid a similar scenario. The Interior Ministry said the demonstrations registered with and authorized by the authorities, had followed their designated routes on Saturday.
However, in many places, far-left groups had gathered within or on the fringes of the marches, and attempted to instigate attacks on security forces, individuals or property, it said.
Officers had generally been able to prevent these incidents through systematic intervention, the ministry said.
According to the latest figures from the Interior Ministry, last weekend’s protests resulted in 2,025 arson attacks, 1,522 shops being looted and 1,144 police officers being injured.
GNA