European protest violence drops

French police reported a drop in violence during this weekend's demonstrations, citing fewer arrests and less property damage than in previous weeks.

On Saturday, rioters in Paris threw Molotov cocktails at officers on the city's eastern edge, injuring three and setting a car on fire. Masked groups also hurled fireworks at police near the Eiffel Tower, causing tourists to flee. By Saturday night, authorities had arrested 779 people. That number was much lower than the 2,628 arrests on Oct. 17, when a city hall was torched and over 2,000 stores were looted. Police in Paris and Marseille said only a few shops were targeted this time, with no major damage reported.

A national police official told The Associated Press that about 70,000 officers were deployed around the country. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said authorities prepared for a large turnout of both peaceful marchers and troublemakers. Tensions are expected to rise as high schools reopen Monday. Student groups and labor unions have called for new nationwide protests on Tuesday and Thursday.

Across the border, Germany faced similar challenges. More than 100,000 mostly young people protested peacefully on Saturday, demanding more investment in education, housing, and climate protection. In Frankfurt, rioters attacked police downtown and looted stores, injuring several people and leading to the detention of 30 individuals. Police cordoned off the city center, and the situation calmed by early Sunday. Violence also occurred in Cologne, where water cannons were used, and in Berlin, where protesters threw bottles and pyrotechnics.

Boris Rhein, the governor of Hesse, called the violence in Frankfurt "violent excesses" that would not go unpunished. He said anyone who acted like the attackers in downtown Frankfurt placed themselves outside society. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told the daily paper Bild that "violent left-wing groups and troublemakers from the immigrant community" had hijacked the peaceful demonstrations. He added that the rioters and looters would be identified and held accountable. The youth initiative "Gen Z regelt" posted a statement on Instagram distancing itself from violence committed by groups or individuals not part of the official demonstrations.

In Portugal, riot police forced protesters out of Rossio square in Lisbon early Sunday. Thousands had marched during the day for more affordable housing, and a few hundred camped in the square overnight. Police removed tents and detained a few people. These protests follow a Spanish movement focused on rising living costs.