Chaos across France: Nearly 1,000 protesters arrested; Shops looted VIDEO

He stated that nearly 1,000 people had been detained across the country by 7:30 p.m. and warned that the number could rise.

“By comparison, 385 people had been detained by the same time during the protests on October 17,” the French minister said, according to BFM TV.

He said that the protest marches had been largely peaceful, but that, “as expected, high-risk groups broke away and attempted to cause unrest and commit criminal offenses.”

According to him, the police prevented attacks on public buildings, similar to those that occurred during the protests on October 17, as well as attempted looting.

French television reported, citing police sources, that two jewelry stores were looted in Marseille's fifth arrondissement.

Riots in Nice

In Nice, 61 people had been detained by 7 p.m., according to the prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes department.

A far-right group dispersed in the city's old town, while police continued to disperse protesters in the waterfront area.

In Clermont-Ferrand, one person sustained a serious hand injury and was given emergency medical treatment, the prosecutor's office announced.

French authorities deployed around 70,000 police officers and gendarmes across the country for today's protests.

According to the French Interior Ministry, around 410,000 people took part in protests across France, while the CGT trade union estimates that the turnout was approximately 800,000.

In Paris, around 110,000 people demonstrated, according to police figures, while the trade union put the number at 250,000.