Paris, Nov 1. (dpa/GNA) – French authorities arrested a total of 779 people during nationwide protests in France on Saturday, and 159 members of the security forces were injured in violent clashes, the French Interior Ministry reported.
It said on Sunday that 515 fires had been extinguished, and 36 shops had been damaged in the protests, which went on into the evening. There were also three incidents of looting.
Partial bans on demonstrations imposed by the regional prefectures were upheld in almost all cases by the courts.
Protest marches along authorized routes outside city centres took place under police supervision.
Towards the end of the marches, groups of rioters attempted to make their way into city centres and attacked security forces, the ministry said, blaming some of the violence on groups from the far-left of the political spectrum.
Around 320,000 people took part in the demonstrations nationwide, 22% fewer than the previous weekend and 42% fewer than on October 17, two weeks earlier, when France saw serious riots, looting and widespread destruction.
French school pupil and university student organizations, trade unions and the Yellow Vest movement have announced further protests on several days next week.
On Monday, pupils plan blockades as they return to classes following two weeks of autumn holidays, while on Tuesday universities and secondary schools are to be blockaded.
The unions have called a general strike for Thursday, and on Friday the Yellow Vest movement intends to continue the industrial action.
There are also plans for mass protests nationwide on Saturday, marking the fourth consecutive weekend of protests in France.
GNA