Over 8,000 arrested in wake of violent 'Yellow Vest' demonstrations

PARIS - More than 8,000 individuals have been detained in association with the "Yellow Vest" protests, French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said on Thursday.

The movement started on Nov 17, 2018 to protest high living costs and unfair economic policies in France.

French police have arrested 8,400 people since the movement began three months ago, with 7,500 remaining in police custody, Castaner was quoted as saying by state-run France Info radio.

He also said 1,300 police officers, gendarmes and firefighters had been wounded.

On Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron said the violent "Yellow Vest" protests must come to an end.

"The events in recent days related to the movement take a new turn following violence against the home of the Speaker of the National Assembly, parliamentary offices, the Republic's institutions, but also violence against some of our fellow citizens because of their beliefs," Macron said, according to government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux.

For the 13th consecutive weekend in a row, tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets across French cities last Saturday.

As in recent weeks, disturbances have flared up in the capital after groups of demonstrators broke away from the designated route and threw bottles and other projectiles at police, who responded with tear gas.

Video footage showed a vehicle of the anti-terrorism Sentinelle force in flames. Some motorbikes, cars and bins were set on fire, and shop windows were smashed in popular tourist areas in the French capital.