French prosecutors launch attempted murder probe after petrol bombs injure officers
French prosecutors have opened an investigation for attempted murder after petrol bombs were thrown at police and gendarmes during Saturday's protests in Paris, injuring an officer with second-degree burns. About 70,000 police and gendarmes were deployed nationwide, and an estimated 320,000 people demonstrated over the weekend. More than 770 arrests were made across France, including 105 in Paris, while no suspects have been detained pending identification.
Key facts
- Around 15 gendarmes and police officers were targeted with explosive projectiles.
- Thirteen members of the injured officer's unit were also hurt.
- Three individuals dressed in Black Bloc style have been singled out as suspects, though none have been arrested.
- Interior Minister Laurent Nunez described the violence as extraordinary.
- The protests marked a third consecutive weekend of demonstrations against soaring living costs in Paris and other cities.
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Why it matters
The unrest highlights growing public anger over rising living costs.
What changed
First published from ABC News (Australia), Bangkok Post, DW, The Straits Times and RTÉ News