Marseille Unrest Causes Extensive Damage and Arrests

According to the BBC, protests in Marseille on Saturday escalated into violent disorder that damaged more than 500 premises and looted the majority of them.

The BBC reported that 118 police officers were injured, representing more than a tenth of the national figure, and that 101 arrests were made, a quarter of them children.

The BBC said that for eight hours demonstrations and gatherings were banned to avoid a third consecutive day of disorder, and that an overnight curfew for minors was expected to be announced for some parts of the city.

The BBC noted that the protests began in September over poor school conditions and cost of living, and that the disorder was described by a police union boss as an "apocalyptic" hell for his colleagues.

The BBC reported that the largest central gathering was a group of tourists walking along the quayside, and that the police were most conspicuous on the streets rather than protesters.