More than 1,300 are arrested across France as masked rioters clash with police after 410,000 march over living costs
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.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez attributed "an extremely elevated level of violence" to "ultra-left" groups, with 53 officers injured in the unrest. Seized items included a katana, slingshots, steel balls and fireworks. Tear gas was deployed by riot squads in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux and Lille, with around 70,000 officers on duty across the country. Activists have scheduled a further round of protests for 31 October.
The previous week saw rioters damage or loot roughly 3,000 businesses across France.
The CGT union estimates the total turnout at 800,000, almost twice the figure given by the government.
British group Socialist Students has called on UK pupils to walk out of class on 20 November.
