French unions plan a general strike for November 5 threatening to paralyse trains and schools after 1,314 protest arrests
Clashes between protesters and riot police in Paris, as largely peaceful nationwide marches turned violent by evening despite a 70,000-strong deployment that prevented the arson seen a week earlier.Riots in Paris. Activists have called a further day of protests for 31 October after Saturday's marches drew between 410,000 and 800,000 people nationwide.
Unions are calling a mass day of action for Saturday 31 October, the run-up to the strike. Murielle Guilbert of the Solidaires federation warned of 'an aggregation of anger' from students, workers and firefighters. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said the state is 'clearly expecting risk of more trouble'. Emmanuel Macron, who leaves office next spring, has imposed night-time curfews in hotspots.
Fifty-three officers were hurt, and police seized a katana, slingshots and steel balls.
This week the Senate will debate a 'vandals pay' law fining protesters up to €10,000.
President Trump said he told Macron: 'You are destroying France.'
