Violent clashes, looting and arrests as 550,000 protest in France

Nationwide violence and arrests

More than 1,200 people were arrested across France on Saturday as demonstrations over school conditions and the cost of living descended into violent clashes, looting and arson. The interior ministry said an estimated 550,000 took to the streets, but the day was marred by what the government called an “escalation in violence”. Riot police used tear gas and water cannon in Paris, where significant clashes continued into the evening. Buildings were set alight in the capital and elsewhere, and widespread vandalism targeted city halls and businesses.

In Limoges, a large fire at the town hall caused part of the roof to collapse. Lyon’s tourist office, described by Mayor Grégory Doucet as “a very iconic, well-known historic building”, was also burned. Local police said “hostile individuals” prevented firefighters from safely tackling the blaze. In Saint-Étienne, Mayor Régis Juanico reported on social media that a young man “had his hand blown off” by a small explosive. “Such a tragedy should never have happened,” he wrote.

Looting was reported in several cities. Shops were ransacked in Paris, and an Apple store in Lille was broken into and emptied. In Grenoble, masked men drove a tourist train towards riot police officers, according to footage authenticated by BBC Verify. Damage to buildings was also reported in Marseille, Rennes, Toulouse, Angers, Avignon, Pau, Montpellier and Valence.

Protesters, police and political reaction

The main march in Paris was largely peaceful during the afternoon. A group of young people told the BBC they were “pacifists” who were “just trying to make things change, but nothing is moving”. But later, groups lit fires in the street and torched vehicles, including at Place de la République. At least one restaurant was gutted by fire, and the BBC saw fighting among some groups. Riot police charged at the crowd in central Paris, hitting several people with batons. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said 150 police officers were injured.

The protests have drawn in hundreds of thousands of students in recent weeks over staff shortages and dilapidated facilities in lycées. Numbers were bolstered by trade union members and other groups, including the gilets jaunes movement that demonstrated against cost-of-living hikes from 2018. The interior ministry said Saturday’s protests involved “targeted acts of violence” from “hooded individuals”.

President Emmanuel Macron said those who “looted even our town halls” would be “prosecuted and punished”. Hard-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who took part in demonstrations, accused police of “unleashing” on protesters but condemned the looting and arson. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen said legitimate demands were being “held hostage by the far left”. The unrest comes as France heads into a period of political uncertainty, with Macron set to leave office next year and polls suggesting a presidential runoff between Le Pen and Mélenchon.

Education response and ongoing tensions

Education Minister Édouard Geffray promised 3,000 extra supply teachers in a television interview on 8 October. Yet the protests have continued, with some groups using them as a “warm-up” for the presidential elections, according to Mélenchon. He insisted that “no-one will impose their political agenda through violence”.