UPDATE - Nearly 1,000 arrested across France amid protests, figure expected to rise
- Laurent Nunez says police intervened against groups accused of attacking security forces, damaging property
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- Laurent Nunez says police intervened against groups accused of attacking security forces, damaging property
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By Seyma Erkul Dayanc
ISTANBUL (AA) - Nearly 1,000 people have been arrested across France during Saturday's demonstrations over rising living costs and poor education standards, with the figure expected to rise, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said.
Nunez said the demonstrations had largely proceeded as anticipated, but groups considered at risk of causing trouble had broken away from marches and sought to damage property and attack security forces.
“Law enforcement intervened systematically in response to these acts, which were numerous, involving projectile throwing and mortar fire,” he said.
The minister said the number of arrests was significantly higher than the 385 recorded at the same point during demonstrations last weekend.
Nunez said shops in city centers were protected, although some businesses were looted in certain cities. He described the situation in this regard as better than last week.
Police, the minister said, also seized a large number of items that could be used as weapons, praising the effectiveness of the security operation.
Nunez said two people were seriously injured, one in Clermont-Ferrand and the other in Toulouse.
He defended the police response, saying officers had acted proportionally and rejected claims that the authorities repressed the protest movement.
“Without the police, there would have been no march,” Nunez said, highlighting the level of aggression faced by law enforcement officers.
Citing the administration in city of Tours, where around 5,000 people demonstrated, the minister said authorities had observed up to 800 masked individuals who sought to avoid identification before vandalizing property.
Nunez also referred to an incident in Nice in which a far-right group reportedly attempted to protect businesses before being dispersed by police. He described the incident as “a first.”
The minister said there had been no attacks targeting public buildings, attributing this to police intervention.
He contrasted this with Oct. 17, when public facilities, including city halls in Limoges and Marseille and the Lyon tourist office, were targeted.
Şeyma Erkul Dayanç