Trade unions and France’s Interior Ministry have reported sharply differing estimates of turnout at nationwide protests held on October 31.

Axar.az reports that an organisation representing youth groups and trade unions estimated that around 500,000 people took part in demonstrations across the country, including approximately 200,000 in Paris.

The Interior Ministry, however, put nationwide turnout at 320,000, including 70,000 demonstrators in Paris. It also reported that 422 people had been detained in connection with the protests.

While the majority of the Paris demonstration passed peacefully, clashes broke out towards the end of the march. The ministry said police confronted groups of between 200 and 300 people, during which an explosive device struck a police officer.