Wire reporting: (AFP, via ABC News Australia)

Paris prosecutors opened an attempted-murder inquiry Sunday after a homemade firebomb exploded at the feet of gendarmes as Saturday's cost-of-living march ended in eastern Paris^2,3,4,5.

The prosecutor's office said explosive devices were thrown at about 15 gendarmes and police officers and opened a case for attempted murder of persons vested with public authority^2,3,4.

The incident occurred at Porte de Charenton as the Paris procession ended^3,6. Images distributed by AFP showed an incendiary device bursting at a gendarme's feet and setting protective gear alight^3,4.

Prosecutors said reported injuries included second-degree burns, with the injury count still being assessed, and that no suspect had been arrested in connection with the throw^2,3,4.

A gendarme who was struck told RTL on condition of anonymity that his unit was under assault and that greasy fuel spread across his skin⁵. The gendarmerie said 13 members of that unit were injured, according to RTL⁵. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez described the attack as attempted murder and said the officer was lightly injured and kept working^3,6.

The Paris police prefecture said several hundred rioters attacked security forces with projectiles, including a Molotov cocktail^2,4,5. The prefecture counted five officers hurt in the capital, four police officers and one gendarme⁶. France's Interior Ministry said 159 members of law enforcement were injured during the protests and Halloween events⁵.

Authorities put nationwide turnout Saturday at about 320,000, while unions estimated nearly 500,000^3,6. About 70,000 police and gendarmes were deployed, ABC News Australia reported, carrying AFP². The Interior Ministry reported 779 arrests nationwide during the demonstrations and Halloween night, below 1,314 the previous Saturday and 2,628 on Oct. 17^3,5. Paris prosecutors reported 105 arrests in the capital, 88 linked to the demonstrations and 17 to Halloween, with 89 people remaining in custody, including at least 22 minors³.

France's Chambers of Commerce and Industry said about 20 businesses were damaged, fewer than on earlier protest weekends, while voicing concern about retail activity before the year-end season^2,5.

The protests were the third weekend of demonstrations over living costs, education and public services^2,4,5. Student groups said high-school and university blockades would resume after a holiday, with Union etudiante calling actions Tuesday, Nov. 3, and Thursday, Nov. 5, the day unions have called a national strike^2,6. Pierre Sourzat of the Lyceens! group told RMC that President Emmanuel Macron had not listened and called government measures insufficient².

Marine Le Pen of National Rally said those responsible for the firebomb must be punished with the utmost severity; she and Republicans leader Bruno Retailleau described images of the officer in flames as unbearable^5,6. The Guardian also reported related unrest the same weekend in Germany, Switzerland, Portugal and Albania¹.

Investigators had not identified who threw the device^2,4,6. Crowd counts remain disputed between authorities and organizers^3,6.