French Prosecutors Open Attempted Murder Investigation After Molotov Cocktails Hit Security Forces in Paris
French prosecutors opened an attempted murder investigation after petrol bombs were thrown at security forces during weekend protests in Paris over soaring living costs. The Paris police prefecture said that several hundred rioters attacked security forces with projectiles, including Molotov cocktails, during clashes that erupted on Saturday.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez Reports Extraordinary Violence and Injuries
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez decried an “extraordinary” level of violence from some rioters after explosive devices were thrown at around 15 gendarmes as well as police officers. Dramatic footage showed a homemade incendiary device exploding at the feet of a security officer in eastern Paris, engulfing his lower body in flames. Prosecutors stated that an assessment of the injured was ongoing, adding that the reported injuries include second-degree burns. The gendarme struck by the Molotov cocktail told French television that his unit was “under assault,” with glass bottles, paving stones, shards of glass, and firebombs thrown at them.
Marine Le Pen Demands Strict Punishment as Arrests Mount Across France
Marine Le Pen posted on X that those responsible for the firebomb attack must be “punished with the utmost severity,” describing images of the officer in flames as “unbearable.” More than 770 people were arrested across France during the weekend demonstrations, the interior ministry said. The ministry noted that “radical elements” in cities such as Bordeaux, Toulouse, and Marseille had attempted to enter city centres “with the aim of carrying out vandalism and looting.” Meanwhile, the Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CCI) reported that some 20 businesses were affected on the sidelines of Saturday’s protests, a significantly lower figure than during previous weekends.
Questions Remain Over Suspect Identification and Holiday Retail Impact
Investigators continue working to identify those responsible for the petrol bomb attacks, as prosecutors confirmed that no suspects “have been arrested at this stage in connection with the incident.” CCI France voiced concern about the impact of the protests on retail activity ahead of the year-end holiday season, a peak period for businesses.
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