Police arrested 1,314 people and 53 officers were injured during Saturday’s protests across France, the interior ministry said on Sunday, as authorities defended a reinforced security operation aimed at keeping marches safe and protecting shops.
Demonstrations over the cost of living and the defence of public services passed off peacefully for much of the day on Saturday, although clashes later broke out in several cities, including Paris, Marseille, Bordeaux, Toulouse and Tours. Police used tear gas during confrontations.