Brief
France sees 1,200 arrests as protests over living costs turn violent
Police clashed with demonstrators in Paris and other cities, reporting dozens of injuries and widespread looting.
By Felo News Desk · Published
France woke up on Sunday to scenes of devastation after protests against rising living costs escalated into violent clashes, looting and fires across at least ten cities, Gulf News reported.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said 1,200 people had been arrested and 150 police officers injured. He described the intensity of the unrest as "extreme" and called the low casualty toll a "miracle". The violence began during marches in Paris and spread to Marseille, Nice, Nantes, Bordeaux, Limoges, Lille, Toulouse and Strasbourg.
In Paris, Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire described whole streets as "devastated" after masked youths torched parked cars and ransacked shops ranging from supermarkets to luxury boutiques. Police used tear gas and water cannons as protesters threw projectiles and fireworks. A 17-year-old in Saint-Étienne lost his right hand when a crowd‑control grenade exploded.
Looting was reported in multiple cities. AFP journalists observed groups of half a dozen masked men disabling security cameras before smashing windows to enter stores. Town halls were also targeted; the 140‑year‑old Limoges town hall was largely destroyed by fire, and similar attacks occurred in Marseille and Lille. A police compound in Bordeaux and a tourist office in Lyon were also vandalised.
International reactions included U.S. Vice President JD Vance blaming immigration for the unrest, saying Western liberals had imported "the third world" into France. President Emmanuel Macron pledged prosecution for anyone involved in vandalism, attacks on administrative offices or looting, according to the report.
Opposition figures, including far‑right candidate Marine Le Pen, have seized on the chaos ahead of the April‑May presidential election, though the article does not detail their specific statements.
Key facts
- Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said 1,200 people were arrested and 150 police officers injured. (gulfnews.com)
- Looting and fires were reported in Paris, Marseille, Nice, Nantes, Bordeaux, Limoges, Lille, Toulouse and Strasbourg. (gulfnews.com)
- A 17-year-old boy lost his right hand to a crowd‑control grenade in Saint-Étienne. (gulfnews.com)
- U.S. Vice President JD Vance blamed immigration for the unrest in a statement on X. (gulfnews.com)
- President Emmanuel Macron said those who vandalised or looted would be prosecuted. (gulfnews.com)
Sources
- [1] gulfnews.com — originally reported as “France in Turmoil: Nationwide Protests Escalate into Violence, Fires, and Looting”
