10 publishers · first seen Sun, 01 Nov 2026 13:26 UTC · updated Mon, 02 Nov 2026 11:44 UTC
Paris prosecutors have opened an attempted murder investigation after a petrol bomb set a French gendarme's leg on fire during the Paris riots on 31 October. The incident, which occurred in eastern Paris, was captured on video as France entered its third consecutive weekend of nationwide demonstrations against rising living costs and strained public services. Although most marches were peaceful, clashes erupted as some protesters and security forces confronted each other. The injured gendarme, identified only as Captain Alexandre, sustained minor injuries. Prosecutors have singled out three potential suspects wearing black bloc-style clothing, but no arrests have been made. Nationwide, 320,000 people joined the demonstrations on 31 October, with 779 arrests reported across France.
The protests, which began with grievances about schools and education, expanded to include higher living costs, inequality, and pressure on public services. The Interior Ministry reported 779 arrests nationally across the protest day and Halloween night. The clashes were not representative of every protester or every demonstration. The investigation into the petrol-bomb attack is ongoing, with no suspects arrested as of 1 November.
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