France protests: More than 100 police officers were injured in the May Day demonstrations

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By Robert Greenall, BBC News, May 1, 2023, 19:27 GMT

Updated 1 hour ago

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Witness: French cities witness violence during Labor Day demonstrations

The interior minister said at least 108 police officers were injured in clashes across France with protesters angry at pension reforms.

Such a large number of police injured is extremely rare, Gerald Darmanin said, adding that 291 people were arrested during the unrest.

Hundreds of thousands took part in May Day demonstrations against President Emmanuel Macron’s reforms.

Most of them were peaceful, but extremist groups threw petrol bombs and fireworks.

The police responded with tear gas and water cannons.

It is not clear how many protesters were injured.

This is the last day of mass action against changes that raise the state pension age from 62 to 64. Trade unions want it withdrawn.

The Interior Ministry estimated the total number of protesters at 782,000, including 112,000 in the capital, Paris, but the CGT union says the number is three times that number.

Union leaders were adamant that the months-long opposition to the reforms had not waned.

“The page will not turn as long as this pension reform is not reversed. The determination to win is sound,” CGT leader Sophie Binet was quoted by AFP.

Darmanin said that a police officer suffered serious burns to his hands and face in Paris when he was hit by a petrol bomb.

Violence also broke out in Lyons, Toulouse and Nantes, with cars set on fire and businesses attacked.

Image source, Getty Images

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Nantes was one of the cities where protests turned violent

It was also reported that protesters briefly occupied a luxury hotel in the southern city of Marseille, and Monday marked the first time since 2009 that France’s eight major unions supported calls for a protest, according to Agence France-Presse.

Darmanin accused the several thousand far-left groups known as the Black Blocs of being behind the violence and urged “punishment of those who attacked the police and public property”.

There has been a violent element to the protests since March, when the government decided to force the legislation through the lower house of Parliament – where it lacks an absolute majority – without a vote.

Macron says reform is a necessity.

The reforms are expected to take effect by September.

The government has promised more talks but the unions are determined to reverse the changes, and it is not clear where a compromise can be found.

Image source, Getty Images

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Police fired water cannons at protesters in Toulouse

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