France, Nov. 3 -- The second day of action after a two-week half-term break came as France's Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin revealed that nearly 5,000 people had been taken into police custody since the first wave of nationwide protests on 17 October over the state of schools and the rising cost of living.

Darmanin told French broadcaster BFMTV that 1,474 were minors. "This clearly shows that this is a movement of adults, not a continuation of the school students' movement," Darmanin added.

On Tuesday, student groups and trade unions continued their preparations for a nationwide strike on Thursday.

"We need to keep showing, particularly to the prime minister's office, that universities are still mobilised, that this is not going to s...