Serious riots and clashes broke out at rallies in Paris and other cities on Sunday following the second round of the French parliamentary elections which saw the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) pull of a surprise win, according to initial projections.
In Paris, thousands of people gathered on the Place de la République in the centre of the capital to celebrate the victory of the left-wing alliance in the snap election.
According to media reports, some of the demonstrators clashed with police, who used tear gas. Wooden barricades were set on fire.
Numerous shops and banks in central Paris had secured their windows with wooden panels on election day in anticipation of possible riots. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin had mobilized 30,000 officers for Sunday to prevent clashes, with 5,000 deployed in Paris and the capital's suburbs alone.
Clashes were also reported in the northern city of Lille between far-left activists and police. Officers used tear gas.
According to media reports, 25 people were arrested in Rennes, western France, after riot police deployed tear gas against a group of left-wing demonstrators chanting "Everyone hates the police."
In Nantes, a police officer was injured by a Molotov cocktail thrown at him, according to local media. Demonstrators threw fireworks at the security forces, who responded by deploying tear gas.