France investigates the Molotov cocktail thrown at a police officer during protests as an "attempted murder"

On October 31, 150 demonstrations took place in France organized by unions, student unions and the yellow vests, who were mobilizing for improvements in public education and against the cost of living. In total, 320,000 people took to the streets, according to the Ministry of the Interior.

Most of the protests passed without incident, except in some cities such as Paris or Grenoble. In the French capital, at the end of the demonstration, a young man threw a Molotov cocktail at the police who were on an adjacent street controlling the entrances and exits of the demonstration, near Porte de Charenton. The device exploded at the feet of a gendarme and the plastic protective equipment on his legs quickly caught fire. The soldier confirmed today that he is fine, but suffered burns to his extremities and hand when trying to put out the fire with it. Likewise, two of his companions suffered injuries from the fire.

In total, 10 members of the security forces suffered injuries of various degrees, mainly due to burns and acoustic trauma linked to the detonation of the cocktails or the flares launched by the protesters. Although the gendarme has clarified that he did not feel any danger for his life, he has stated that there was "unusual violence."

The Minister of the Interior, Laurent Nuñez, has described the event as an "attempted homicide" against the police officer and a judicial investigation has been opened. The perpetrator has not yet been identified, but the injured gendarme has said that he "hopes they find him." The minister considers that "groups of several dozen individuals" tried to break up the demonstrations and create chaos with looting and destruction in the cities. Núñez has attributed these acts to the extreme left. In total, 511 people were detained by police yesterday.

In the capital, calls for gatherings of the gilets jaunes, prohibited by the authorities, had little turnout. After the demonstration, thousands of protesters attempted to continue the protest at the Bastille in Paris, but were dispersed by police with tear gas. There were only disturbances after the demonstration around the Eiffel Tower, where young people in costumes danced to Thriller and other songs until, shortly before midnight, the police decided to evict them from the square and clashes with the police took place.

The Student Union has called to block institutes and universities on November 3 and 5. Next Thursday there is a call for a large national inter-union strike formed mainly by the CGT, Fuerza Obrera and other French unions, to which the student unions have joined.

Among the main demands of the strike are the increase in salaries, the revaluation of pensions and the interprofessional minimum wage. Likewise, it is requested that social aid be increased and more resources be given to public services, especially health, education and care for the elderly.