Sporadic violence flares as hundreds of thousands protest in France
Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of France as a vastly reinforced security presence appeared to have averted a repeat of last weekend's unrest, despite isolated clashes in several cities. The protests, which were largely peaceful, turned violent in the evening with clashes popping up and the police using tear gas and water cannons to disperse some protesters in Marseille and Paris.
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- ✓ Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of France
- ✓ 410,000 people took part in protests nationwide, according to France's Interior Ministry
- ✓ The protests were largely peaceful until evening, when clashes popped up and the police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse some protesters
- ✓ Almost 1,000 people were arrested as violence flared across France
What changed
The protests turned violent in the evening with clashes in Marseille and Paris.
Live updates
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Sporadic violence flares as hundreds of thousands protest in France
Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of France as a vastly reinforced security presence appeared to have averted a repeat of last weekend's unrest, despite isolated clashes in several cities. The protests, which were largely peaceful, turned violent in the evening with clashes popping up and the police using tear gas and water cannons to disperse some protesters in Marseille and Paris.
Why it matters
The protests are part of a larger movement challenging President Macron's policies. A heightened security presence was deployed to prevent a repeat of last weekend's unrest. Several planned marches in major French cities were banned by authorities, provoking an uproar by rights groups. The protests come amid a backdrop of increased tensions between the government and the public.
What is confirmed
- Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of France
- 410,000 people took part in protests nationwide, according to France's Interior Ministry
- The protests were largely peaceful until evening, when clashes popped up and the police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse some protesters
- Almost 1,000 people were arrested as violence flared across France
Still unconfirmed
- Unions said the true figure of protesters was twice as high as the Interior Ministry's estimate
What to watch next
- Further protests and clashes in France
- Government response to the protests
- Development of the movement challenging President Macron's policies
confidence 85%Sources used for this update (14)
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- The Guardian — Protests begin in France, as Italian police raid homes in Milan ahead of demonstrations – Europe live
- WSJ — France Girds for Another Day of Protest After Widespread Violence
- Reuters — France protests begin under heavy security as police seek to prevent fresh unrest
- PBS — More than 400,000 protest across France, challenging Macron as Paris clashes erupt
- www.cnbc.com — Violence flares in Paris after largely peaceful protests ...
- www.staradvertiser.com — Sporadic violence flares as hundreds of thousands protest in France | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
- www.aljazeera.com — Hundreds of thousands protest in France amid heightened ...
- www.abc.net.au — Almost 1,000 arrested as violence flares across France amid ...
- www.nytimes.com — France Protest Updates: Hundreds of Thousands March Amid ...
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