French Justice Minister Announces 174 Jailed and 917 Referred to Courts After Violent Protests
During a visit to Marseille the justice minister said authorities jailed 174 people and referred 917 to the courts out of about 2,500 detentions following violence and looting during Saturday's protests against rising living costs.
French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin announced during a visit to Marseille that authorities have placed 174 people in jail and referred 917 others to the courts in connection with violence and looting that accompanied protests in several French cities.
The minister added that the number of people detained reached about 2,500, noting that some detainees were being held pending investigation while others were jailed to serve custodial sentences handed down by courts.
Darmanin said that among those subject to the measures are people with no prior criminal records, and that judicial authorities are still handling the files of suspects accused of committing acts of violence and looting and of attacking security forces and public and private property.
The minister said that judicial measures will be carried out firmly while affirming respect for the independence of the judiciary, noting that these measures come in the context of protests that erupted last Saturday against rising living costs and were accompanied by violence, vandalism and looting of property.
