Violence breaks out as hundreds of thousands protest in France

Clashes broke out between protesters and police in several French cities on Saturday as 320,000 people took to the streets nationwide to demonstrate against the high cost of living and deteriorating conditions in schools.

After a largely peaceful start to the day, police used tear gas in Paris and Lyon in the late afternoon, according to French media reports and footage from live broadcasts.

In Paris, fireworks explosions could be heard, while footage broadcast by BFMTV showed incendiary devices being thrown at officers in riot gear, with several caught in the flames.

The French Interior Ministry said 320,000 people had participated in demonstrations across the country, including 70,000 in Paris.

In Marseille, footage showed objects burning in the streets and firefighters responding to the scene. Clashes with police were also reported in Rennes and Toulouse.

In Rennes, individuals fired projectiles towards police officers, according to the local prefecture.

Trade unions, school and student organizations, as well as the grassroots Yellow Vest protest movement, which first rose to prominence in France in 2018, had called for the demonstrations.

Tensions in the capital escalated after demonstrators reached the end of their march on the southern outskirts of Paris.

Special police units ordered protesters to leave the area, according to media reports, but efforts to disperse the crowd made only slow progress.

Paris police conducted more than 1,200 checks at railway stations and in surrounding areas early on Saturday in an effort to identify potential troublemakers, the city's police prefecture said.

The authorities said the checks were intended to prevent demonstrators from bringing fireworks, knives and other prohibited dangerous items to the marches.

Police also deployed "all available resources" in the air to ensure security throughout the day, the prefecture said.

Under an official order, camera-equipped drones were authorized to capture and transmit images of the situation in the capital.

Interior minister warns of high risk of violence

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez had warned earlier on Saturday that the rallies posed a "very high risk," citing concerning calls for looting and rioting.

In response, many shops and businesses had boarded up their windows and taken other precautions. Curfews and other restrictions were imposed in several cities, including measures targeting specific locations or minors.

Authorities also feared that Halloween celebrations on the same day could provide an opportunity for people to conceal their identities while committing offences.

Due to fears of attacks on public buildings and the looting of shops, authorities ordered protest routes in Paris and other cities to be moved away from city centres.

Around 70,000 police officers and other security personnel were deployed across France for Saturday's demonstrations.

A similarly large deployment last weekend largely prevented a repeat of the violence and destruction seen during protests on October 17.

Young people in France have been demonstrating for weeks over inadequate staffing and equipment in schools. Since mid-October, other groups have joined the protests, primarily over the high cost of living.