Mass protests, pogroms, vandalism: more than 2 thousand people detained in France

French law enforcement officers detained more than 2 thousand people during mass protests that swept the country, the correspondent of the agency “Minsk-Novosti” with reference to TASS.

Photo by Reuters

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez confirmed the detentions and said the authorities would continue to prosecute those involved in the pogroms and robberies. In Paris, law enforcement officers had to use noise grenades and tear gas several times to disperse protesters.

Mass demonstrations against rising fuel prices and declining purchasing power took place across France on Saturday, October 17. The organizers estimate the number of participants at 800 thousand people, while the interior Ministry has 550 thousand. In a number of cities there were clashes with police and pogroms of shops.