France Launches Attempted Murder Probe After Petrol Bomb Attacks on Police in Paris Protests

France has opened an attempted‑murder investigation after petrol bombs were hurled at security forces during a weekend of protests in Paris and other cities. Video footage of a police officer set ablaze sparked public outrage and prompted the Paris police prefecture to announce that several hundred rioters had attacked officers with projectiles. The clashes followed the third week of demonstrations against soaring living costs, with hundreds of thousands of people taking to the streets. While the scale of the riots was smaller than earlier episodes, the use of incendiary devices against police prompted authorities to treat the incidents as violent crimes. The investigation will determine whether the attackers face charges for attempted murder and other offenses. The probe signals a hardening stance by French law enforcement on protest‑related violence.