Paris:More than 500 people were injured during Yellow Vests demonstrations across France on Saturday, as confirmed by Interior Minister Laurent Nunez on Monday.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, Nunez reported that the injuries included 267 law enforcement officers and over 250 protesters. Additionally, at least 1,435 individuals were detained nationwide over the weekend during the protests against the rising cost of living.

Despite the significant number of injuries and arrests, Nunez stated that no major incidents occurred during the demonstrations. He mentioned that three people were seriously injured in the cities of Toulouse, Reims, and Clermont-Ferrand. The minister defended the implementation of partial curfews in several French cities, stating that prefects had the authority to impose restrictions when there was a risk of disturbances to public order.

Nunez noted that partial curfews remain in effect in approximately 10 locations across the country, with ongoing implementation by prefectural authorities in coordination with local municipalities. Addressing clashes involving groups opposed to the Yellow Vests movement in Nice and Montpellier, he acknowledged that police had not protected those groups and admitted to mistakes in the handling of a previous wave of demonstrations on October 17.

In addition, Nunez commented on an attack in Trappes, in the Yvelines department, on Friday, describing it as a racially motivated act of terrorism. He explained that the perpetrator aimed to kill individuals of foreign origin whom he believed should not be integrated into French society. Nunez emphasized that the possibility of the attacker having schizophrenia would not alter the classification of the incident as terrorism, stating that the attack was driven by hatred and racism.