France records 779 arrests as protest turnout falls, while Germany sees looting and clashes

Arrests and turnout in France

On Saturday, 31 October, France's Interior Ministry put the nationwide arrest toll at 779 for the day's protests and the Halloween night. The ministry counted 291 gatherings and demonstrations that drew 320,000 people, 70,000 of them in Paris, and reported 40,000 checks across the country. Organisers put the crowd at 500,000.

2026-10-172,628

2026-10-241,314

2026-10-31779

2026-10-17

2628 arrests

2026-10-24

1314 arrests

2026-10-31

779 arrests

Data from the article text

The movement began in late September, when secondary school and university students protested the state of public schools and universities, and it later widened to rising prices, purchasing power and the quality of public services. Turnout has fallen over three weekends. On 17 October, 550,000 people took part in 441 actions, and on 24 October, 410,000 took part in 289 actions. The 779 arrests are also well below the 1,314 recorded on 24 October and the 2,628 on 17 October, when riots and looting swept the country. Local media said 116 security personnel were injured, and the ministry said the drop in violence reflected a heavy security deployment.

2026-10-17550,000

2026-10-24410,000

2026-10-31320,000

2026-10-17

550000 people

2026-10-24

410000 people

2026-10-31

320000 people

Data from the article text

Molotov attack in Paris

At the end of the Paris march, at Porte de Charenton, a homemade incendiary device was thrown at police and gendarmes. The Paris prosecutor's office opened an investigation into attempted homicide against people holding public authority. Footage showed a device exploding at the feet of a security officer in protective equipment, setting the lower part of his body on fire. Prosecutors' provisional assessment was second-degree burns and tinnitus, although that balance was still pending, and no suspect had been detained for the attack. In Paris, 105 people were arrested, 88 in connection with Saturday's march and 17 with Halloween.

The ministry blamed some far-left groups for the violence at the end of several marches, saying groups tried to push into city centres and attacked security forces with force. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez called the attack on the officer an attempted murder. According to the ministry's balance, firefighters tackled 515 fires, 36 shops were damaged and three looting incidents were recorded. Administrative courts almost entirely upheld prefectures' partial bans on demonstrations. Social media posts attributed to far-left groups had called for violence on Halloween night, which prompted the extra security measures.

Looting and clashes in German cities

On the night of Saturday, 31 October, shops were looted in central Frankfurt during protests against the cost of living, and clashes were also reported in Berlin, Cologne and Hamburg. Police said demonstrators attacked emergency crews with fireworks, stones and bottles, and that water cannon was used to disperse them. Earlier that day, thousands joined largely peaceful marches organised by the Gen Z regelt movement, whose name translates as Generation Z takes control. Protesters cited underfunded schools, the cost of living, cuts to public spending and compulsory military service.

Frankfurt police reported violent riots in the city centre, with shop windows smashed and Molotov cocktails thrown at emergency crews. A gun shop's window was destroyed and two weapons were seized. A spokesperson said many people were arrested in the city, and a large section of the main shopping street was cordoned off overnight. Authorities in Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin estimated the crowds at up to 18,000, about half the number the organisers had expected on their website, while German press reported tens of thousands of people across the country.

Government response and what comes next

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told Bild that police had prevented violence like that seen in Paris in recent weeks, and he called for severe punishment of protesters involved in riots and looting. Lina Friedrich, a spokesperson for Gen Z regelt, said the movement wants better support for health and education systems, opposes compulsory military service and seeks a fairer distribution of burdens.

In France, new actions are planned for the coming days. Some pupils plan to blockade schools on Monday, 2 November, when lessons resume after two weeks of autumn holidays. Students and universities plan a blockade of universities and secondary schools on Tuesday, 3 November. Unions have called a general strike for Thursday, 5 November. The yellow vest movement plans to continue its protests on Friday, 6 November and to demonstrate nationwide on Saturday, 7 November, which would be the fourth protest weekend in a row.