Brief
Thousands protest in France as riots spark looting and police injuries
Protests over fuel costs and public services erupted into riots across Paris, Marseille and Lille, leaving hundreds of arrests and dozens of police wounded.
By Felo News Desk · Published
France awoke to widespread damage on Sunday after protests against rising fuel prices and deteriorating public services turned violent in several cities, the BBC reported.
What happened
About 550,000 people took to the streets on Saturday, according to the BBC, with demonstrations remaining largely peaceful in most places. In Paris, Marseille, Lille and other towns, groups of rioters dressed in black, many wearing masks and balaclavas, set fire to cars, bikes and buildings, and looted shops including a McDonald’s in Lille and an Apple store in the same city. Police used tear gas and water cannon in Paris, and riot police were seen charging crowds and striking several people with batons. In Marseille, protesters rammed a metal fence into city hall. An unnamed restaurant in Paris was gutted by fire, and a clothing shop near Place de la République was ransacked for over an hour and a half.
What the reports add
The BBC noted that police arrested about 1,800 people on Saturday, while Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said 150 police officers were injured during the unrest. The outlet also recorded that shopfronts of designer brands such as Ralph Lauren, Gucci and Versace were smashed, and many storefronts bore graffiti reading “tax the rich” and “eat the rich.”
What was said
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu told the BBC that 150 police officers had been injured. In Lyon, Mayor Grégory Doucet described the burning of the city’s tourist office as “a tragedy,” telling French outlet BFMTV that it broke his heart because the building is iconic.
How it came about
Student protests in France have been ongoing since late last month, with demonstrators demanding more investment in schools, better staffing and repairs to overcrowded classrooms. The unrest has been linked to broader anger over rising living costs and perceived neglect of public services, a theme echoed in earlier Felo News coverage of the protests and arrests.
Key facts
- Around 550,000 people demonstrated across France on Saturday. (bbc.co.uk)
- Police arrested about 1,800 people during the protests. (bbc.co.uk)
- Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said 150 police officers were injured. (bbc.co.uk)
- Rioting and looting occurred in Paris, Marseille, Lille and other cities. (bbc.co.uk)
- Designer storefronts including Ralph Lauren, Gucci and Versace were shattered. (bbc.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] bbc.co.uk — originally reported as “France protests: Burnt out cars and shattered glass on Paris streets after protests turn to riots and looting”
