Nearly 1,000 are arrested in France as masked mobs attack riot police for a second weekend of mass protests
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said the arrest tally 'will increase significantly' after police seized fireworks, slingshots, steel balls and a katana from demonstrators. Some 70,000 officers and 15 water cannons were deployed to stop a repeat of last weekend's looting. In Paris, masked youths hurled bottles and stones at Porte de Vincennes. Officials put Saturday's turnout at 410,000, while unions claimed 800,000.
The movement began in mid-September, when pupils protested over crumbling schools and teacher shortages.
Nuñez said 500 rioters were among 'several thousand radical activists' at the march's rear.
In Orleans, 15,000 demonstrators tried to disrupt the National Rally party congress.
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Daily Mail NewsFar-Left protest mobs cause chaos on the streets of France for a second weekend as riot police fight back with water cannons and tear gas - and Paris cops seize deadly weapons from demo-goersNY PostI was at a peaceful Paris protest. Then the violent far-left mob arrived.GB NewsBBC STILL calling France riots 'peaceful' as police armed with water cannos and tear gas make 1,000 arrestsAPMore than 400,000 protest across France, challenging Macron as Paris clashes eruptNY PostFrance on edge: nearly 800 protests as police clash with demonstratorsBBC NewsAlmost 1,000 arrested as clashes follow another day of mass protests across FranceUPIFrench protests largely peaceful after last weekend's demonstrationsThe IndependentParis protests take violent turn as police use water cannons on demonstratorsThe IndependentProtesters clash with police in Paris as demonstrations turn hostile across FranceLBCAlmost 1,000 arrested in French protests with number set to rise as police deploy tear gas and water cannons to deter crowdsMetroFrance riots in pictures: Protests of 400,000 descend into anarchyThe GuardianHundreds of thousands march across France in protests over schools and policing
