The Paris Police Prefecture has reported the detention of up to 108 people in just the last three hours of Sunday, in a context of disturbances and protests in the French capital. These arrests are attributed to the actions of "dispersed groups of opportunistic young delinquents" who "are trying to loot businesses," as explained by the police force itself.
In a message disseminated on social media, the Prefecture emphasized that "dispersed groups of opportunistic young delinquents are trying to loot businesses," while highlighting that "the law enforcement forces demonstrate agility and systematically intervene to disperse and detain them."
According to the same source, the detentions have concentrated approximately between 9:00 PM and midnight on Sunday. The police force has reiterated its determination by assuring: "We will not relent in our efforts. The law must prevail."
The protests in Paris are taking place in a climate of strong social discontent due to the poor state of public education, the high cost of living, and reports of police violence recorded in recent weeks. The day before had already ended with a particularly tense day, with 720 arrests in the capital and nearly 2,400 across the country.
The French Ministry of the Interior detailed that on Saturday there were 720 arrests in Paris, of which 517 resulted in formal detentions. Among them are 171 minors and 346 adults. These figures represent just under a third of the total arrests made nationwide, where the government has raised the tally to 2,397 detained, in addition to more than 500 security forces agents injured.
This Sunday, around a thousand people have gathered without authorization in the Place de la République, in the center of Paris, where clashes have been recorded that have lasted throughout the afternoon. However, the capital's police have avoided explicitly linking the detentions of the last hours with this unauthorized gathering.