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France launches attempted murder investigation after petrol bomb thrown at police

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

French prosecutors opened an attempted murder probe after a gendarmerie officer suffered hand injuries and ankle burns from a petrol bomb in Paris. While hundreds of thousands marched largely peacefully, clashes resulted in projectile injuries to 14 additional officers in the affected unit. Over 770 people were arrested nationwide as police deployed tear gas against demonstrators. The confrontations underscore rising casualties on both sides, with Yellow Vest organizers reporting dozens of serious demonstrator injuries from police munitions.

Key points

  • French prosecutors and the interior minister are treating the Paris petrol bomb attack as…: French prosecutors and the interior minister are treating the Paris petrol bomb attack as an attempted murder.
  • Demonstrators and law enforcement continue to experience significant casualties amid clas…: Demonstrators and law enforcement continue to experience significant casualties amid clashes during widespread youth-led protests.
  • Police deployed tear gas and alternative grenade models despite the earlier suspension of…: Police deployed tear gas and alternative grenade models despite the earlier suspension of a specific stun grenade type.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

- Published

Prosecutors in France have launched an attempted murder investigation after petrol bombs were thrown at police during unrest, French media reported.

An image of a police officer with his leg on fire during a clash with protesters in Paris on Saturday has prompted outrage and follows weeks of street protests in France that have also seen demonstrators injured.

The officer, who suffered burns to his ankle and minor injures to his hand, told French newspaper Le Figaro it was a "particularly sophisticated" incendiary device.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said throwing a molotov cocktail at a police line was "what I call a murder attempt", adding officers were working to find the perpetrators.

Hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated across France in largely peaceful protests on Saturday, the latest in a series of youth-led protests that began in late September demanding action on the high cost of living and poor public services, especially schools.

Following previous clashes and looting, thousands of police officers were deployed across the country over the weekend, and officers fired tear gas at demonstrators in…

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