Anti-government protests over the poor state of public services in Morocco turned violent on Wednesday, with three people killed when officers opened fire on a group of people attempting to "storm" a police station in Leqliaa, near the coastal city of Agadir, state media said.

The group, armed with knives, barged into a security forces facility and set it on fire, forcing security forces to use firearms in self-defense, said local authorities.

A judicial investigation into the incident had been opened, officials said.

It marks a deadly turn in the anti-government protests that initially rallied for social justice reforms.

Morocco's Interior Ministry said that over 400 people had so far been arrested and nearly 300 injured during the rallies.

Why are young Moroccans protesting?

The protests began on Saturday with demands for better education and health care.

A major complaint is that the North African nation is building stadiums in preparation for hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup while neglecting public health and education crises.

The demonstrations have been driven by Moroccan Youth Voice and GenZ 212, loosely formed, anonymous youth networks, who put out the call. The groups used platforms including TikTok, Instagram and gaming application Discord to put out a call for protests.

They cited issues such as "health, education and the fight against corruption," while professing their "love for the homeland."

The protests come at a time of popular discontent over Morocco's social inequalities, which have disproportionately affected young people and women.

Morocco's unemployment rate stands at 12.8%, with youth unemployment reaching 35.8% and 19% among graduates, according to the national statistics agency.

The deaths of several women at a public hospital in Agadir, a large city on Morocco's central coast, has swelled public outrage against Morocco's health system.

Edited by: Srinivas Mazumdaru