France protests: Police charge students at Sciences Po, knock man down as 1,314 arrested nationwide | Watch

French riot police charged into a group of protesters at Sciences Po Paris, pushing demonstrators against a railing and knocking a man carrying a megaphone to the ground, as unrest over the rising cost of living and conditions in the education system continued across the country.

Footage from the Paris institution showed officers advancing towards the crowd and using batons as protesters backed away. Some demonstrators were pushed against a railing during the intervention, while a man holding a megaphone was knocked to the ground as police moved into the group.

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According to the footage's accompanying description, the police action was aimed at clearing students who had blocked the institution. The visuals captured the forceful intervention as officers moved towards the demonstrators, forcing them to retreat.

The incident comes amid a fresh wave of protests across France, where demonstrations against rising living costs and concerns over the education system have been accompanied by clashes in several cities.

French authorities arrested 1,314 people nationwide over the weekend, as the demonstrations entered their second consecutive weekend amid widespread unrest.

France protests: Over 4 lakh march nationwide as clashes erupt

The scale of participation remained contested. The French Interior Ministry estimated that around 4,10,000 people took part in 298 demonstrations across the country, while the General Confederation of Labour put the turnout at approximately 8,00,000.

Although several marches remained peaceful, confrontations between protesters and police were reported in Paris and other cities. The unrest also resulted in damage to businesses, prompting authorities to increase security measures and checks following violence during earlier demonstrations.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said on Saturday that 53 police officers had been injured during the protests. He also reported two serious injuries among demonstrators, one in Toulouse and another in Clermont-Ferrand.

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According to figures cited by France 24, police responded to 75 fires during Saturday's demonstrations, while 24 shops were looted.

In Paris, authorities said the demonstration had been dispersed along the Cours de Vincennes after clashes broke out between police and protesters towards the rear of the march. Police used water cannons and tear gas grenades after projectiles were thrown at officers.

The Paris police prefecture also said a Gendarmerie helicopter had been deployed to assist ground units and locate remaining groups of rioters. More than 500 rioters were reportedly present towards the end of the demonstration, according to the prefecture.

Political tensions rise as France faces another weekend of unrest

Following the violence, the Interior Ministry said several investigations had been opened, without providing further details. Authorities reported that Saturday night remained calm after the confrontations subsided.

The latest demonstrations mark a second consecutive weekend of nationwide unrest over the cost of living, with tensions also extending to educational institutions. The scenes at Sciences Po Paris added to concerns over the increasingly confrontational nature of the protests.

The police response has also drawn political criticism. Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of the left-wing France Unbowed party and a presidential candidate, criticised the police handling of the demonstrations in Paris.