Nearly 1,000 people have been arrested across France during Saturday’s demonstrations over rising living costs and deteriorating education standards, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said, warning that the figure was expected to increase.

Nunez said the demonstrations had largely unfolded as anticipated, but groups identified as potential troublemakers had broken away from marches to vandalize property and attack security forces.

“Law enforcement intervened systematically in response to these acts, which were numerous, involving projectile throwing and mortar fire,” the minister said.

The number of arrests was significantly higher than the 385 recorded at the same point during demonstrations the previous weekend, he added.

Nunez said security forces had successfully protected shops in city centers, although some businesses were looted in several cities. He described the situation as an improvement on the previous week.

Police also seized a large number of objects that could be used as weapons, with the minister praising the effectiveness of the security operation.

Two people were seriously injured during the demonstrations, one in Clermont-Ferrand and the other in Toulouse, Nunez said.

The interior minister defended the police response, insisting that officers had acted proportionately and rejecting accusations that the authorities were suppressing the protest movement.

“Without the police, there would have been no march,” Nunez said, pointing to the level of aggression directed at security forces.

Citing reports from authorities in Tours, where around 5,000 people took part in demonstrations, he said up to 800 masked individuals had been observed attempting to avoid identification before vandalizing property.

Nunez also referred to an incident in Nice in which a far-right group reportedly attempted to protect businesses before police dispersed its members. He described the incident as “a first.”

The minister said no attacks had been recorded against public buildings during Saturday’s demonstrations, attributing this to police intervention.

He contrasted the situation with October 17, when public facilities, including city halls in Limoges and Marseille and the Lyon tourist office, were targeted.

The demonstrations come amid public discontent over the cost of living and education standards, with authorities facing mounting pressure to maintain public order while allowing protesters to exercise their right to demonstrate. (ILKHA)