Hundreds of thousands march again as French protest groups demand more rallies and Macron faces mounting pressure
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.
Fresh demonstrations drew hundreds of thousands across France amid calls from protest groups for further rallies, as Macron faced stark warnings that he has one last chance to save the country. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez blamed black-clad 'ultra-left' extremists for 'an extremely elevated level of violence' against police. Some 70,000 officers and gendarmes were deployed, 10,000 more than the previous weekend. Police tackled 75 fires and 24 shops were looted. Clashes erupted in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux and Grenoble.
Riot police fired tear gas and water cannon at around 500 hooded youths at Porte de Vincennes.
In Nice, 59 people were held, including 11 suspected extreme-right members armed with truncheons.
Looting victim Michele Teboul says some French store owners have bought weapons.
