French police arrested more than 1,800 people after nationwide protests against the cost of living, education standards and public services turned violent, with looting in Paris and the Limoges town hall burned down.
Violence erupts across France
Organisers said around 800,000 people took to the streets in hundreds of marches, many of which turned violent with looting, arson and clashes with police. Students were joined by unions and the gilets jaunes (yellow vests) as more than half a million people took part, according to authorities.
While many protested peacefully, violence erupted across France, with horror images showing looting, burning buildings and vehicles and confrontations with cops. The city hall in Limoges was burned down with its 143-year-old spire collapsing, while a tourist office in Lyon also went up in flames. Crowds fought running battles with police in Paris, Lyon, and Marseille.
Looters target shops
Several videos posted on social media show shop owners outside their businesses pleading with balaclava-clad looters to spare their stores. In one, a distraught woman is seen begging rioters in Paris not to loot a supermarket. She is heard asking "why are you doing this" and screaming "this is not the cause" as a group of young male rioters push past her into the smashed shop.
About 1,500 shops and retailers were damaged in yesterday's protests according to Alexandre Bompard, president of the Retail and Trade Federation. In Paris, demonstrators erected flaming barricades and hurled missiles at riot police, who responded with tear gas grenades and water cannons. In the southern city of Marseille protesters managed to storm the city hall.
Police admit they 'lost control'
French police arrested more than 1,800 people across the country, as the force admitted it was unable to cope with disorder on such a massive scale. "It was apocalyptic," a senior commander told Sunday's Le Parisien newspaper. "Law enforcement was unable to contain the multitude of simultaneous attacks occurring across the country, and was quickly overwhelmed by determined protesters."
Authorities said that around 550,000 people took part in the protests yesterday, but organisers claim the figure is closer to 800,000. Thirteen police and gendarmerie officers and two firefighters were injured, according to Associated Press. One protestor died of a heart attack, according to French police.
Government response
France's interior minister Laurent Nunez said more than 500 police officers, gendarmes and firefighters have been injured in the demonstrations. "The material damage is considerable," he added, pointing to damaged shops. In a post on X the minister blamed thousands of "far-left" protesters along with "criminals who looted and ransacked" civic and private buildings across France yesterday.
Meanwhile French President Emmanuel Macron is holding a crisis meeting with ministers today in the aftermath of the protests. He is due to give a televised address to the French nation this evening. The mayors of France's three largest cities, Paris, Marseille and Lyon have asked to meet with French prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, in the coming days.
