Police fired tear gas at protesters in Paris and Lyon on Saturday as huge crowds, mostly young people, marched across France over the rising cost of living and the state of the country’s schools.
It was the third weekend in a row of demonstrations. A coalition of youth groups and unions representing high school and university students said almost 500,000 people took part nationwide, about 200,000 of them in Paris. Authorities gave much lower figures: 320,000 across the country and 70,000 in the capital.
The Paris march began peacefully but turned violent near the planned end point. Protesters set bins and street furniture on fire, and smoke rose over parts of the city. Riot police used heavy tear gas and warned over loudspeakers that they would fire more if the street was not cleared. Medics carried away injured people, while some protesters raised their hands to show they meant no harm.
On the outskirts of Paris, AFP reported that dozens of masked people dressed in black pried up paving stones with hammers and threw them at officers. At least one incendiary device was also thrown. Police responded with tear gas and baton charges.
Al Jazeera’s Natacha Butler said the gas was so thick that her team had to move away to breathe.
