"Apocalyptic" scenes - 1,200 arrested in France

Hundreds of thousands and hundreds of thousands of protesters gathered to show their dissatisfaction with government power, high living costs and police authority in France.

Clashes with police and acts of violence broke out even before many of the protest marches started on Saturday. A large part of the demonstrations could be carried out in orderly forms, but masked, violent groups took over in many places in what the French media described as "guerrilla-like" protests.

On Saturday evening, it was established that 150 police officers had been injured. The number of injured protesters has not been made public, but protesters testify to "brutality" and police violence. Tear gas and so-called stun grenades were used by police to quell the riots.

A 17-year-old boy lost his right hand after coming into contact with a grenade.

Businesses and shops have been looted in Paris, Marseille, Nice, Nantes, Bordeaux, Limoges, Lille, Toulouse and Strasbourg. Streets have been vandalized, police stations attacked and town halls stormed and set on fire. In Limoges in central France, the roof of the town hall collapsed after protesters set fire to the late 19th century building.

French authorities state that 550,000 people participated in the demonstrations around the country. According to the trade union Confédération Générale du Travail, CGT, at least 800,000 people participated.

In recent weeks, society in France has been characterized by a growing discontent, directed against power, the political regime and President Emmanuel Macron personally.

The protest wave has sprung from a left-leaning student movement among high school students and university students. Several of the past demonstrations have been followed by violence and clashes with the police. As the protests have grown, farmers, trade unionists and supporters of the so-called yellow vests have joined and made common cause with the students.

The demonstration groups are united in their criticism, but far from agreed on how the problems should be dealt with or what political direction the country should take.