Paris prosecutors have opened an attempted murder investigation after petrol bombs were thrown at security forces during protests in the French capital. The investigation was opened on Sunday after an incendiary device exploded at the feet of a gendarme at Porte de Charenton, where a march on Saturday had ended.

Prosecutors said explosive projectiles were thrown at around 15 gendarmes and police officers. Photographs and video from the scene showed a device exploding at an officer feet and setting his protective equipment alight. Reported injuries included second-degree burns and tinnitus, although prosecutors said the assessment of injuries was still provisional.

No arrests yet over the attack

No suspects had been arrested over the attack, prosecutors said, and investigators were still working to identify those responsible. The gendarme struck by the device told French media he suffered burns to his ankle and minor injuries to his hand, and that 14 other members of his unit were injured to varying degrees.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez described throwing a petrol bomb at a police line as what he called a murder attempt, and said officers were working to find the perpetrators. The Paris police prefecture said several hundred rioters had attacked security forces with projectiles, including a petrol bomb.

Wider protest arrests

The Interior Ministry reported 779 arrests nationwide during the demonstrations and Halloween night, below the totals of previous weekends. Paris prosecutors separately reported 105 arrests in the capital, 88 linked to the demonstrations and 17 to Halloween night.

The protests were the third weekend of youth-led demonstrations over living costs, public services and education. Most of Saturday demonstrations were peaceful, but clashes in Paris and other cities ended with tear gas fired at demonstrators.

Sources: TBS News, 2 November 2026; Calgary Tribune report on the same investigation, citing AFP.