Half a million protest in France as hundreds detained over riots

More than half a million people demonstrated in France on Saturday in a nationwide day of protest against the high cost of living that saw hundreds of arrests. 
President Emmanuel Macron said there was 'no room for violence' after riots broke out in several cities, with protesters being blocked from marching on government buildings in Paris. 
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said around 550,000 took part in the protests, including some 110,000 in the capital. 
Looting, arson and damage to property occurred in many cities, with masked rioters attacking town halls, police stations and other government buildings. 
The Interior Ministry said 400 people were arrested and 60 police officers were injured in the violence, which comes after a wave of school protests in recent weeks. 
The government convened a crisis meeting in the evening, with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu condemning the riots. 
'To those who quite clearly wish to use these acts of violence as a warm-up ahead of the presidential elections, I say quite clearly: we will not be intimidated. No one will impose their political agenda through violence.'
Macron said rioters would be 'prosecuted and punished,' warning that 'sowers of chaos' were seeking to undermine the country's institutions.Widespread violence
Police earlier wielded tear gas and batons against protesters in Paris, Lyon and Strasbourg.
In Marseille, protesters repeatedly tried to break into a police station, gained access to the town hall and looted shops, the Interior Ministry said. 
A tourist information centre was set on fire in Lion. The ministry said the fire brigade was prevented from intervening by rioters. 
Rioters forced their way into the courtyard of the prefecture in Avignon, while in Grenoble, damage was caused to the town hall.
According to the Paris police prefecture, around 100 people were arrested in the capital for carrying weapons and other prohibited items.
Various groups joined the day of protest, which had been planned for some time, including school pupils and university students who have been demonstrating for weeks for better learning conditions.
The call to protest was spread on social media, and also addressed high fuel prices, low wages, the large number of people in low-paid jobs and problems in agriculture and the fire service.Fears of a new yellow vests protest
There was also a call for a renewed yellow vest movement, feeding government fears that the demonstrations could spark broader protests.
The yellow vest protests roiled France in 2019, spreading from demonstrations against a planned increase in fuel taxes into a nationwide movement against high living costs and social injustice, which caused Macron serious problems during his first term in office.Violent attacks by masked people
According to the Interior Ministry, there was a very strong mobilization of the ultra-left scene, who the ministry said aimed to stir up unrest. 
The ministry reported attempted looting, attacks on law enforcement officers, arson in public spaces and targeted attacks on the authorities and media. 
About 100 masked people blocked access to the right-wing TV channel CNews in Paris, media outlets reported. The building also houses the radio station Europe 1.