French protest violence eases as Germany faces scattered riots

French authorities reported a decline in protest-related violence compared to earlier demonstrations, with fewer incidents of property damage and fewer injuries. However, police expect new demonstrations as schools reopen after an autumn break.

In Germany, nationwide protests on Saturday ended with some cities experiencing riots, including attacks on police and looting. Despite this, the overall level of violence was described as less severe than on October 17, when a city hall was torched and more than 2,000 stores were looted in hours of violence that authorities seemed unprepared to control, or during follow-up protests on October 24.

In Paris, rioters used Molotov cocktails against police, injuring three officers and setting a car on fire. Across town, masked groups hurled fireworks at officers, prompting repeated police charges and the evacuation of tourists.

Authorities noted that the number of arrests on Saturday was significantly lower than on October 17, when 2,628 people were arrested, and last weekend, when 1,314 people were arrested. Paris and Marseille police reported only minor shop damage with no major incidents.

German officials deployed about 70,000 police nationwide to manage potential tensions, as student groups and unions called for new nationwide protests on Tuesday and Thursday. In Frankfurt, rioters attacked police and looted stores, leading to 30 detentions and a temporary calm after police cordoned off the area.

In Lisbon, Portuguese riot police removed protesters from a central square by force after days of demonstrations over housing costs. Demonstrators had marched through the city during the day and camped overnight in Rossio, a square in central Lisbon, prompting early Sunday police intervention.