Cars were set on fire and shops were looted in Paris on Saturday as police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse violent protesters who joined nationwide demonstrations against rising living costs and in support of high school students' grievances.

Some 550,000 protesters hit the streets across France, including 110,000 in Paris, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said. Organizers estimated even higher turnout.

The Interior Ministry said at least 272 people had been arrested after violent incidents involving hooded individuals in cities including Paris, Marseille in the south, Toulouse in the southwest, Angers in the west and Lyon in east-central France.