Youth-led protests across Europe end in violence; attempted murder probe over petrol bomb at French police

▲ Escalating

Petrol bomb at French riot police prompts attempted murder probe as protests turn violent

On Sunday, French officials opened an attempted murder investigation after a petrol bomb was thrown at riot police. Protests in France, Germany, Switzerland, Portugal and Albania turned violent, and police in France used tear gas as the demonstrations entered a third week. A student union leader says high school blockades will resume on Monday, while Macron has urged classes to restart after new education measures that student groups consider insufficient.

• The interior ministry estimated 320,000 demonstrators nationwide on Saturday, fewer than on the previous two Saturdays, with clashes in Paris and other cities.
• Gen Z protests turned violent in 34 German cities, according to reports, after thousands rallied in Berlin citing rising living costs and military spending.
• France deployed 70,000 police ahead of Saturday's protests; Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez had warned of a "very high risk of public disorder".
• Macron denied the government had considered suspending social media but said platforms must be vigilant against misuse.