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1,000 arrested during violent protests in France: Interior minister

Gerald Darmanin said in an interview with the French TF1 channel, that 45,000 police officers have been deployed across the country in preparation for a possible fourth night of protests.

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1,000 arrested during violent protests in France: Interior minister

He said 197 protesters were arrested Thursday during nationwide demonstrations with protesters as young as 13 arrested.

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1,000 arrested during violent protests in France: Interior minister

Noting that more special police and gendarmerie forces will be on duty, the interior minister said there will be armored vehicles and helicopters to avoid more violent protests.

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1,000 arrested during violent protests in France: Interior minister

He acknowledged sadness is legitimate because of the death of Nahel M, 17, however, he underlined it does not justify what is happening.

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1,000 arrested during violent protests in France: Interior minister

Darmanin also emphasized that authorities will sue anyone who uses social media to commit violence.

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1,000 arrested during violent protests in France: Interior minister

Regarding the "war" remarks by two police unions -- UNSA Police and Alliance Police -- Darmanin said, "These are not my statements."

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1,000 arrested during violent protests in France: Interior minister

The unions released a statement Friday on the protests that said: "Today, Policeman are fighting because we are at war."

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1,000 arrested during violent protests in France: Interior minister

"Against those savage hordes, asking for calm isn't an option, it must be imposed," it said.

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1,000 arrested during violent protests in France: Interior minister

Fifteen people were arrested in Creteil, 11.7 kilometers (7.2 miles) from Paris, after protesters caused multiple damages and set fire to garbage cans, French broadcaster BFMTV reported, citing a police source.

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1,000 arrested during violent protests in France: Interior minister

The Interior Ministry said 11 people were arrested in Strasbourg where the opera house was damaged. All stores were closed after protesters targeted businesses, including the Apple store.

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1,000 arrested during violent protests in France: Interior minister

Meanwhile, lawmakers from the left-wing coalition La France Insoumise (LFI) party in the National Assembly urged the government to organize a debate on the riots on the assembly floor, proposing the implementation of an "emergency plan" aimed at addressing "police violence."

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1,000 arrested during violent protests in France: Interior minister

And a 19-year-old male died Friday after he fell from the roof of a supermarket around 5 a.m. local time in northwestern France during protests, the France Bleu Normandie newspaper reported.

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1,000 arrested during violent protests in France: Interior minister

France has seen a wave of violent protests since a police officer shot dead Nahel M. in the Paris suburb of Nanterre on June 27.

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1,000 arrested during violent protests in France: Interior minister