French police arrested more than 560 people during nationwide protests on Saturday against rising living costs and deteriorating education conditions, according to the Associated Press, with the final figure exceeding the numbers previously announced by authorities.
Earlier, BFMTV reported that the French Interior Ministry had recorded 511 arrests by 8 p.m. local time, after authorities initially announced that 296 people had been detained.
France witnessed mass demonstrations on Saturday, October 31, for the third consecutive week, with participation from labor unions, supporters of the Yellow Vests movement, and school and university students. Protesters were demonstrating against the rising cost of living and declining education standards.
According to the Interior Ministry, approximately 320,000 people took part in demonstrations across the country, including 70,000 in Paris. Youth and labor organizations, however, estimated the turnout at around 500,000 protesters nationwide, including 200,000 in the capital.
Most marches began peacefully, but clashes broke out between groups of protesters and security forces as demonstrations ended in Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse and other cities. Police used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse demonstrators, while water cannons had also been deployed during protests in previous weeks.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said the demonstrations were generally peaceful, but accused groups he described as belonging to the far left of attempting to enter city centers and engage in vandalism and looting.
Nuñez said authorities had conducted approximately 40,000 searches across the country as part of security measures that included deploying 70,000 police officers and gendarmes in anticipation of renewed unrest.
In a sign that protests may continue, student organizations called for schools and universities to suspend classes on November 3 and 5, alongside calls for a nationwide strike on November 5.
