The French authorities placed 123 people in pre-trial detention following a weekend of nationwide protests, Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin said on Tuesday.

"As of today, 123 people are incarcerated, either under temporary detention or following an arrest warrant," Darmanin told the Europe1 radio and the CNews channel.

About 550,000 people rallied nationwide on Saturday, according to the Interior Ministry estimates. Demonstrations escalated into violence and vandalism, with arson and looting reported.

Protests began in France in mid-September, when high school students in the Paris suburbs took to the streets to demand improvements to their schools. They were later joined by people unhappy with rising prices, and the demonstrations spread to other regions.

@Sputnik