Nearly 300 people were arrested after members of the grassroots Yellow Vest protest movement and farmers joined high school students on Saturday in demonstrations against the rising cost of living and deteriorating conditions in French schools.
According to reports, demonstrations by students began in the Paris suburbs in September but have spread throughout France in recent days, with teachers, local politicians and trade unions joining the aggrieved students in protests.
With Yellow Vest protesters and farmers joining the demonstrations on Saturday, police reported that around 20,000 people turned out for demonstrations in each of Lyon and Nantes, while more than 10,000 attended protests in Rennes.
Around 500 actions and more than 90 demonstrations were planned across the country on Saturday, according to sources close to the Interior Ministry.
Reports noted that about 163 protesters were arrested by law enforcement officers in Paris alone as violent clashes erupted between demonstrators and police across several cities.
Police deployed tear gas and water cannons around Place de la République after a vehicle was set ablaze, while masked men smashed windows at the tourist office after looting. A fire was also reported.
In Marseille, violent protesters were said to have gained entry into a city hall momentarily but damaged televisions and knocked a bust of Marianne to the ground. A municipal police station was also targeted, prompting the deployment of additional riot police companies.
Businesses and police officers stationed in the city of Nice were also targeted by masked individuals, leading to additional arrests.
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