Published Sunday, November 1, 10:30 a.m. ET (4:30 p.m. Paris) · Source: Paris prosecutor’s office, French Interior Ministry, Paris police prefecture
A homemade firebomb burst at a gendarme’s feet as France’s Saturday protest ran down, and by Sunday the country was asking who threw it. Paris prosecutors have opened an inquiry, for attempted homicide.
The attack came at the close of the latest round of France protests over living costs and public services. Student groups are now calling blockades before a national strike on Thursday, November 5.
Key Facts
- What happened: A homemade firebomb burst at a police officer’s feet at the end of Paris’s Saturday march; Paris prosecutors opened an attempted-homicide inquiry.
- The numbers: Authorities counted 320,000 marchers nationwide; 779 people were arrested across France.
- What next: Student groups call school and university blockades on Tuesday, November 3, and Thursday, November 5.
- Prediction markets: Polymarket, a crypto betting exchange, prices a French state of emergency by December 31 at 7.5% (10:16 a.m. ET, November 1).
This story is part of our coverage of the why France is in crisis. Dates, times and how to follow it are in our guide.
In plain English
A gendarme is a soldier-police officer; France’s gendarmerie is a military force that works as police. A Molotov cocktail is a bottle filled with fuel and lit.
Paris prosecutors investigate crimes in the capital. The inquiry only starts the search for whoever threw it; nobody has been charged.
A Firebomb at Porte de Charenton
The device exploded at the end of the Paris march on Saturday, October 31, at the Porte de Charenton, a city gate in the 12th arrondissement, a district in eastern Paris. It set the leg of a mobile gendarme alight, and the scene was filmed.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, who runs the national police, called it an attempted murder on Saturday. He said the officer was only lightly injured and did not stop working.
The Paris police prefecture counted five officers hurt in the capital, four police officers and one gendarme.
Prosecutors Open an Inquiry
On Sunday, November 1, the Paris prosecutor’s office opened an inquiry for “attempted homicide against persons holding public authority”.No suspect has been named, and no arrest for the throw has been reported.Anyone eventually charged is presumed innocent.Marine Le Pen of the National Rally, a conservative party, and Bruno Retailleau, leader of the Republicans, a mainstream conservative party, both called the act unbearable.
Retailleau said the culprit must answer for it. See our France 2027 election tracker.
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Turnout Tops 300,000, With 779 Arrests
Authorities counted 320,000 marchers nationwide on Saturday, while organisers claimed 500,000. Police made 779 arrests across France.
Earlier tallies are in our report France protest day ends with 500+ arrests.
Students Call Blockades Before the Strike
The Union étudiante, a university students’ union, called blockades of high schools and universities for Tuesday, November 3, and Thursday, November 5. Thursday is also the day unions have called a national strike and march.
Our explainer on why France is protesting sets out the grievances.
What Prediction Markets Say
Polymarket, a crypto betting exchange, priced a French state of emergency by December 31 at 7.5% on Sunday morning, with more than US$2.6 million traded. These prices are bets, not polls.
Why we show this: prediction markets turn real-money bets into a live probability that moves within minutes of the news, which is why investors, campaigns and newsrooms in the United States now follow them closely. We show them next to polls and official results, never instead of them.
What It Means for US Readers
Travellers in Paris should expect school-area disruption on Tuesday and a day of strike and marches on Thursday, which can slow metro and rail lines. Our guide on whether it is safe to travel to France is updated as dates change.
The attack gives security a larger place in the run-up to the 2027 presidential vote. A calm November 5 would ease that pressure, while fresh violence would harden it.
What Is Not Known
Nobody knows who threw the device or when an arrest might come.It is also unclear how many devices were thrown in total.Crowd counts also differ, 320,000 by authorities against 500,000 by organisers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who threw the Molotov cocktail in Paris?
Nobody has been identified or arrested for the throw. Paris prosecutors opened the inquiry on Sunday, November 1, for attempted homicide.
What happens in France next week?
Student groups call blockades on Tuesday, November 3, and Thursday, November 5. Unions plan a national strike and march on Thursday, November 5.
Sources: French government (info.gouv.fr); Paris police prefecture; Paris prosecutor’s office announcement of November 1, 2026; Union étudiante and Union syndicale lycéenne statements.
Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief · Editorial standards · Report an error