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French Minister of Justice Gérald Darmanin announced the arrest of 174 people in connection with the violence witnessed during the "Yellow Vests" protests on October 17.
In press statements on Wednesday in the city of Marseille, he added that about 2,500 people have been placed in custody in connection with the protests, and 917 of them have been referred to the judiciary.
He added that 174 people were arrested on charges related to possession of stolen property or participation in acts of assault, considering this "a very large number."
He pointed out that the detainees, in particular, are people with no prior criminal records, adding that surveillance camera footage and videos posted on social media platforms may lead to the detention of more people in the coming hours.
On Saturday, France witnessed protests by the "Yellow Vests" movement against the high cost of living in hundreds of locations, with the participation of various segments of society, most notably high school students, farmers, and climate activists.
The demonstrations, particularly in the capital, Paris, and a number of other cities, witnessed an escalation in tension between police and protesters and the occurrence of acts of violence.
Numerous shops were also looted, including branches of luxury brands, while the historic town hall building in the city of Limoges was set on fire.
The "Yellow Vests" demonstrations in France began for the first time on November 17, 2018, in protest against rising fuel prices and poor economic conditions, then turned into protests against the social and economic policies of President Emmanuel Macron.
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