Politics · France · 50 mins ago
Nearly 1,000 arrested at protests across France
Nearly 1,000 people were arrested at protests across France on Saturday, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, who said the total could rise.
The demonstrations were against government policy, the state of education and rising living costs.
They followed violent protests a week earlier, when 385 people were arrested and shops were looted.
Authorities deployed about 70,000 additional officers, backed by the army, after facing criticism over their response to the earlier unrest.
Most demonstrations were peaceful, but clashes broke out in Paris and other cities, and two people were reported seriously injured.
Estimates of the nationwide turnout differed: the government counted 410,000 demonstrators, while unions estimated about 800,000.
Authorities planned to remain on high alert through Sunday, and Nuñez said police action had helped prevent looting and attacks on public buildings.
Police arrested nearly 1,000 people after clashes during protests across France on Saturday, October 24.
The demonstrations were called over the cost of living and education funding, including school staffing and resources.
Authorities deployed 70,000 security personnel, and the Interior Minister said the response was more positive than a week earlier.
Turnout estimates differed: the Interior Ministry put the nationwide crowd at 410,000, while the CGT union estimated nearly 800,000.
Two people were seriously injured, one in Toulouse and another in Clermont-Ferrand, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez.
- Who
- Protesters and police across France; nearly 1,000 people were arrested.
- What
- Protests over living costs and education funding were followed by clashes in several cities.
- When
- Saturday, October 24, 2026.
- Where
- Across France, including Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Nantes.
- Why
- Protesters opposed soaring living costs and sought more funding for education.
Protesters and demonstrators
French authorities
Protest restrictions
Protesters and demonstrators
Some demonstrators denounced bans and what they called repression of protests.
French authorities
Authorities restricted routes and banned some demonstrations, saying measures were needed to prevent violence and protect businesses.
Responsibility for violence
Protesters and demonstrators
Protesters criticized police conduct; one demonstrator told AFP that officers were beating protesters.
French authorities
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez blamed ultra-left extremists and rioters for attacks and clashes.
Protests began at a high school south-east of Paris over staff shortages and spread to other students and workers.
Protests over living costs turned violent, with looting and 2,700 arrests.
President Emmanuel Macron met high school representatives, who said he had promised to overhaul university admissions.
Demonstrations took place across France; police made nearly 1,000 arrests and authorities reported two people seriously injured.
- Arrests
- Nearly 1,000
- Security personnel deployed
- 70,000
- Interior Ministry turnout estimate
- 410,000 nationwide; 110,000 in Paris
- CGT turnout estimate
- Nearly 800,000 nationwide; 250,000 in Paris
- Seriously injured
- Two people, in Toulouse and Clermont-Ferrand
8 sources
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What people are saying
an extremely elevated level of violence
They were just taking people down, you know, beating protesters
If they ban protests, that means we’re heading more and more towards a regime that is fascist, that is dictatorial
Neither the President, nor the weather will stop me from demonstrating