Over 2,000 arrested during protests across France

More than 2,000 people have been arrested and over 600 police officers, gendarmes and firefighters injured during violent protests across France on Saturday, French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on Sunday, citing provisional figures.

In a post on social media platform X, Nunez said that protests in some cities continued late into Saturday night, adding that investigations were underway to identify the perpetrators of the violent acts and bring them to justice.

Material damage was considerable, affecting several hundred businesses, he said.

While demonstrating is a fundamental right, he stressed, causing disorder through coordinated violence is not.

Police in Paris said on Sunday that they had detained 855 people in connection with protest-related violence in the capital.

Police said the number was a "record figure," as Deputy Mayor Lamia El Aaraje said Paris had been hit by "a level of violence that I believe we had never seen before." About 550,000 people had taken part in demonstrations nationwide, Nunez told French broadcaster BFMTV earlier on Saturday.

The demonstrations brought together farmers, climate activists, trade unions and students, according to French media reports.

Protesters voiced grievances over fuel prices, the cost of living, education and public services.

Nunez reported attacks on public buildings, police stations and businesses during the demonstrations, including intrusions or attempted intrusions at city halls in Marseille, Lille, Calais and Angers, as well as incidents at prefectures, notably in Bordeaux.

He also said opportunistic offenders had taken advantage of the protests to loot shops in several cities.

The unrest also disrupted public transport and cultural activities.

Paris public transport operator RATP announced that services on more than 10 metro lines had been temporarily suspended, with several stations closed.

The Louvre Museum limited the number of visitors on Saturday, while the Orangerie Museum admitted only visitors with reservations.

Historic town hall devastated by fire in Limoges Among the most serious incidents was a fire at the town hall in the southwestern French city of Limoges, which was deliberately set during Saturday's unrest.