Petrol bomb attack on French police triggers attempted murder probe

French prosecutors opened a formal investigation into the attempted murder of police officers after incendiary devices were thrown at law enforcement in Paris on Saturday night. The probe targets the specific incident where a group of gendarmes and police officers was attacked by masked and hooded rioters as the main demonstrations were concluding.

The Paris prosecutor's office confirmed that the investigation focuses on the "attempted murder of persons vested with public authority." Video footage shared on social media and broadcast on French television showed officers suffering second-degree burns. Approximately 15 officers were present at the scene of the attack.

The violence occurred against a backdrop of widespread protests across Europe. An estimated 320,000 demonstrators took to the streets in France on Saturday. Many participants wore Halloween costumes. The rallies were driven by grievances over the education system, public services, housing costs, and the general cost of living.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez described the level of violence as "extraordinary." More than 770 people were arrested in France. The unrest was not limited to Paris; violence also erupted in Marseille, Grenoble, Bordeaux, Lyon, and Toulouse. Officials noted that the physical damage and looting were lower than the events of 17 October. On that previous date, 2,600 people were arrested and up to 3,000 shops were pillaged.

In Germany, the "Gen Z regelt" campaign led marches in more than 30 cities, attracting over 100,000 protesters. The group demanded better education and lower living costs. In Frankfurt, hooded rioters damaged 17 shops and looted five of them. They threw missiles, including petrol bombs, at security forces. More than 100 of the 1,300 police officers deployed in the city were injured.

Roman Poseck, the state interior minister for Hesse, said 54 suspects were arrested in Frankfurt. Their ages ranged from 13 to 29. He stated that police estimated they faced between 1,000 and 1,500 violent troublemakers. Most of those arrested were German nationals. Poseck expressed shock at the events and stated that things cannot continue in this manner.

Alexander Dobrindt, Germany's hardline interior minister, called for tough penalties. He told the newspaper Bild that a heavy police presence helped prevent excesses of violence like those seen in Paris. He singled out violent leftwing groups and troublemakers from the migrant community, saying they would be identified and held accountable.

Protests in Portugal ended with police clearing camps in Lisbon and Porto. Riot police removed protesters from Rossio Square in Lisbon at 4:30 am on Sunday. The demonstrators opposed a bill that makes evictions easier and ends rent caps on new leases. In Albania, 350 people were hurt in protests in Tirana, including 200 police officers. 269 minors were arrested.

In Switzerland, unauthorized demonstrations in Zürich and Basel ended in violence. In Zürich, police used water cannon, teargas, and rubber bullets to disperse rioters. A police patrol car was damaged. In Basel, about 150 people gathered in the city center at 9 pm. Shop windows were smashed and graffiti was tagged on facades. Incidents were also reported in Geneva.