Mass protests rock France, with over 2,000 detained
Photo: Clashes between police and protesters in Paris (Getty Images)
In France, over 2,000 people were detained following mass riots, and more than 500 police officers, gendarmes, and firefighters were injured. Clashes also occurred in Belgium, according to French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez and the Belgian news agency Le Soir.
According to Nuñez, the events of October 17 in certain cities continued late into the night.
He thanks the police, gendarmes, and firefighters who worked under difficult conditions, and states that the right to protest cannot justify violence.
The Minister claims that starting at noon—and in Marseille as early as the morning—several thousand supporters of far-left groups were intent on attacking public buildings and clashing with law enforcement.
Later, he says, they were joined by criminals who looted and vandalized businesses.
Riots were reported in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Rennes, Strasbourg, Grenoble, Nice, Limoges, and other cities.
According to the Minister, participants assaulted law enforcement officers, attacked government institutions, and damaged public buildings. There were also instances of intrusions into prefectures and city halls, as well as looting of businesses.
"For now, more than 2,000 people have been taken into custody, and as of today, investigations are underway to identify the perpetrators of these acts so that they may be held accountable before the courts," Nuñez states.
According to preliminary data, over 500 police officers, gendarmes, and firefighters were injured. The Minister emphasizes that this figure may still change. Hundreds of business owners, in particular, suffered significant property damage.
"The Republic will yield nothing to those who seek to impose disorder and violence," he concludes.
Belgium protests
There were also isolated incidents of unrest in Belgium. According to Le Soir, clashes and acts of vandalism broke out in central Brussels on Saturday afternoon.
The protests spread following clashes between police and young people on October 9, which occurred during a labor union demonstration. According to the agency, there were many minors among those involved in Saturday's events, including children under the age of 12.
In the Marolles district, demonstrators damaged property on Boulevard Lemonnier and Avenue Stalingrad. In particular, they smashed windows at the Brussels office of the Socialist Party (PS).
They also set trash bags on fire, damaged construction equipment, and overturned a car-sharing service vehicle onto its roof.
Police used tear gas and carried out operations to disperse the rioters.
Later, a large group of demonstrators and young people gathered at the Stock Exchange Square in central Brussels. Participants chanted anti-police slogans. Between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., clashes broke out again near the square. Law enforcement officers dispersed the crowd using force and tear gas.
Later, a new procession formed on Anspach Boulevard and moved toward the Ninove Gate. On the streets, trash cans were overturned and set on fire, and shared bicycles and scooters were left in the middle of the roadway.
Around 8 p.m., the situation calmed down. At the same time, police continued to patrol the area around Stock Exchange Square and the surrounding streets. According to law enforcement, about ten people were detained in Brussels during the day.
Liège clashes
Unrest also broke out in Liège. On Saturday afternoon, at Place Saint-Lambert, approximately 30 demonstrators were surrounded by helmeted police officers.
According to the agency, a fire truck was on the scene, spraying water at the protesters. People behind the police cordon chanted, Free our friends!
Earlier that day, a column of demonstrators blocked several roads in the Cadran neighborhood, including the entrance to the highway heading toward Bourenville. Some participants tried to move fences to build barricades, but the police arrived before they could erect them and dispersed the crowd.
According to police, between 200 and 250 people gathered peacefully around 10 a.m. in the Guillemins district. From there, the protesters marched to Saint-Lambert Square, where a sit-in blocked bus traffic. At approximately 1:15 p.m., the procession continued toward the Cadran district.
Background
Protests in France began in September with demonstrations by students and teachers against underfunding of education.
They were later joined by college students, labor unions, and yellow vest supporters, who were also protesting rising prices.
On October 17, at least 550,000 people took to the streets, and in many cities, the demonstrations escalated into riots and arson.
The government convened a crisis committee, and the next nationwide strike was scheduled for November 5.
