Over 1,200 people were arrested on Saturday as violence erupted across France during demonstrations against school conditions and the cost of living, according to the French government. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu reported that 150 police officers were injured during what he described as an "escalation in violence."
Approximately 550,000 people took to the streets. In Paris, the main march remained largely peaceful during afternoon hours, but disorder intensified as evening approached. Rioters set fires in city streets, torched vehicles in central locations including Place de la République, ransacked shops, and gutted at least one restaurant. Riot police responded with tear gas, water cannons and baton charges.
Significant fires swept through multiple cities. In Limoges, a blaze at the town hall caused the roof to partly collapse. In Lyon, the city's tourist office burned; Mayor Grégory Doucet called it "a tragedy," saying "hostile individuals" prevented firefighters from safely fighting the fire. A tourist train was driven by masked individuals toward riot police in Grenoble. An Apple store in Lille was broken into and emptied. An unnamed young man had his hand blown off by a grenade in Saint-Étienne, according to Mayor Régis Juanico.
The interior ministry attributed some violence to "hooded individuals" engaged in "targeted acts of violence" in Paris, Marseille, Rennes, Toulouse and Angers. Damage was reported across Grenoble, Avignon, Pau, Montpellier and Valence.
Hundreds of thousands of students initiated protests over staff shortages and deteriorating facilities in French secondary schools. Saturday's demonstrations drew additional numbers from trade unions and the "gilets jaunes" yellow vest movement, which conducted prolonged cost-of-living protests from 2018 onward.
The unrest occurs as France approaches deep political uncertainty. President Emmanuel Macron leaves office next year. Polls suggest April's presidential election could pit Marine Le Pen of the National Rally against Jean-Luc Mélenchon of hard-left La France Insoumise. Mélenchon participated in demonstrations and accused police of unleashing violence on protesters while condemning looting and arson. Prime Minister Lecornu called those comments "dangerous and cynical," stating some groups used protests as a "warm-up" for elections. Le Pen accused Mélenchon of fuelling violence. President Macron said those responsible for breaking into and looting buildings would face prosecution.
The Education Ministry promised 3,000 extra supply teachers in October, but protests have continued and intensified.