On Thursday, protests against French President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform turned violent, resulting in the arrest of 457 people and injuries to 441 security forces. According to Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, there were 903 fires lit in the streets of Paris, making it the most violent day of protests since January. Despite calls from protesters to withdraw the controversial pensions reform, which was passed by parliament last week, Darmanin, a right-wing hardliner in Macron's centrist government, dismissed the idea, stating that a democratic and social debate should be held instead of a violent one. Anarchist groups were expected to infiltrate the Paris march, and some demonstrators were seen setting fire to uncollected rubbish and smashing windows while wearing hoods and facemasks. The clashes also affected Bordeaux, where the entrance to the city hall was set on fire. The mayor of Bordeaux, Pierre Hurmic, condemned the violence, expressing his concern about the upcoming visit of British King Charles III, who was scheduled to visit the city hall and meet with Hurmic next Tuesday.
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