Nearly 1,000 people were arrested following widespread protests across France on Saturday, as demonstrations turned into evening skirmishes in several urban centers. While the events remained largely peaceful throughout the day, police were forced to deploy water cannons and tear gas in cities including Paris to disperse crowds. Watch: in Paris as police charge protestors during skirmishes. Nearly 1,000 arrests were made as hundreds of thousands of people took part in another day of protests across France which were followed by some clashes late on Saturday, officials have said.
Authorities reported significant property damage in various locations, noting that barricades were set on fire in Marseille, and protesters tore boards from a storefront in Bordeaux. Despite these incidents, officials stated they successfully prevented a recurrence of the extensive rioting and looting that marred last weekend, which had been among the most severe periods of civil disorder in recent French history.
Estimates regarding the turnout varied significantly between official sources and organizers. The interior ministry reported that approximately 410,000 people participated in the demonstrations, whereas trade unions placed the total number of protesters at around 800,000.
