17 October in France: 1,800 arrests and over 500 injured among police and emergency services
Saturday 17 October's mobilisation day resulted in violence, looting and major material damage in at least nine major French cities. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced an initial national assessment, with investigations ongoing to identify those responsible.
National assessment of 17 October violence
According to Actu17, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez provided an assessment on Sunday of Saturday 17 October's mobilisation day: 1,800 people arrested in France, over 500 police officers, gendarmes and firefighters injured. The minister clarified that this "health toll is unfortunately only provisional". On Saturday evening, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu had initially given a figure of 150 injured among the emergency services.
Laurent Nuñez described the course of events: from midday onwards and from the morning in Marseille, "offences were being committed by several thousand far-left individuals determined to target our public buildings and confront our police forces". He added that "subsequently, they were joined by delinquents who looted and ransacked numerous shops in several cities across France".
Looting and damage in at least nine major cities
Shops were targeted in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Rennes, Strasbourg, Grenoble, Nice and Limoges. In Paris specifically, the public prosecutor counted 720 arrests and 517 people in custody, notably following damage to the CNews headquarters and mortar fire directed at La Santé prison. In Marseille, the municipal police station on La Canebière was attacked on Saturday late morning and the building damaged.
The minister condemned the attacks on police forces and institutions, the damage to public buildings, intrusions into prefectures and town halls, as well as looting. "Protesting is a fundamental right. Sowing disorder through violence and in a coordinated manner is not", he stated. He also noted that "material damage is considerable, affecting in particular several hundred shopkeepers".
Investigations launched and support for police and emergency services
Investigations have been underway since Sunday to identify those responsible for these acts "so that they can answer for them before the courts". Laurent Nuñez expressed his "total support" for police officers, gendarmes and firefighters who had "intervened throughout France in extreme conditions". He concluded by stating: "The Republic will yield nothing to those who want to impose disorder and violence".
Source: Actu17