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On October 31, protesters clashed with police in France, with petrol bombs thrown at police. In response, prosecutors began investigating the incident as an attempted murder case on the 1st. French media reported.
Street protests have continued in France for weeks, with some protesters injured.
On the 31st, a photo of a police officer's leg engulfed in flames was circulated, sparking outrage.
The officer suffered burns to his ankle and minor injuries to his hand. In an interview with French newspaper Le Figaro, the bomber said a "very sophisticated" incendiary device was used, which had a "much higher combustion capacity than a regular Molotov cocktail." The liquid used has not yet been identified.
The officer, who works for the National Gendarmerie (technically part of the military but a law enforcement agency under the jurisdiction of the Interior Ministry), also told the newspaper that his unit "suddenly found itself facing hundreds of hostile and well-equipped enemies."
"We were faced with hostile people who were not protesters," he said. "These hostile people are there with the intention of harming those who represent our nation."
The officer also said 14 other officers suffered injuries ranging from minor to serious, and some were hit with flagstones. He also explained that the unit he belongs to had a day off on that day, but was called in on an emergency basis to provide security for the protest.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said the act of throwing petrol bombs at police lines "should be called attempted murder." Police say they are working to identify the culprit.
Protests across France on October 31st were largely peaceful, with hundreds of thousands of people taking part. Participants called for action to address the rising cost of living and the poor quality of public services, including schooling.
Demonstrations have continued in the country since youth-led protests began in late September. Thousands of police were deployed across the country over the weekend as clashes and looting also occurred. Police fired tear gas at demonstrators in some cities.
According to the French Interior Ministry, more than 770 people were arrested on the 31st, about half the number from the previous week.
The Gilets Jaunes (Yellow Vests) movement, which is organizing the protests, said dozens of protesters had been seriously injured in recent demonstrations, many of them from grenades.
In October, France stopped using the same type of grenade to quell student protests after a 15-year-old boy's hand was blown off by a grenade. In subsequent protests, police continued to use other types of grenades, French newspaper Le Monde reported.
Protests led by young people continue across Europe, including demonstrations in Germany and Italy last weekend. Their demands vary, but they generally call for the government to address rising living costs and deficiencies in public services.
(English article France launches attempted murder investigation after petrol bomb thrown at police)
