French police say up to 1,800 arrested as protests turn violent

Authorities report hundreds of arrests and injuries as masked groups clashed with police and looted shops across several French cities.

By Felo News Desk · Published Sun, 18 Oct 2026 22:20:26 GMT

French police said on Sunday that between 855 and 1,800 people were arrested after violent clashes and looting during nationwide demonstrations over rising living costs.

What happened

On Saturday, Oct. 17, masked groups marched through Paris, Lyon, Marseille and other cities, targeting public buildings such as city halls. Demonstrators set fires, broke storefront windows and looted shops. Police and gendarmerie officers, as well as firefighters, were injured in the confrontations. In Paris, the Place de la République saw cobblestones displaced and glass shattered after the unrest.

What the reports add

Independent.co.uk reported that 855 arrests were made in the Paris region and that about 110,000 participants gathered in the capital, while authorities estimated 550,000 participants nationwide and organisers claimed up to 800,000. The New York Post, citing AP, said at least 1,800 arrests occurred across France and that the protests drew “hundreds of thousands” of people. Both outlets noted a fatal heart attack among a protester and injuries to 13 police/gendarmerie officers and two firefighters.

What was said

Paris police said in a statement that one person died of a heart attack during the march. French President Emmanuel Macron was reported to plan an emergency meeting with senior officials on Sunday afternoon and to address the nation at 8 p.m., according to the New York Post. A spokesperson for the police quoted in Independent.co.uk said the later phase of the protest was driven by “large numbers of people whose sole aim was to steal and loot.”

How it came about

The unrest follows weeks of cost‑of‑living protests that began in Paris’s northern suburbs over school conditions and expanded nationwide. Earlier Felo coverage documented similar clashes, including arrests of around 1,200 people on Oct. 17 and earlier school‑related protests in early October. The escalation this weekend mirrors the pattern of masked youths turning peaceful marches into violent actions reported in Felo’s October 2 and October 17 articles.

Key facts

Police said between 855 and 1,800 people were arrested during the protests. (independent.co.uk)
Around 110,000 participants gathered in Paris, according to Independent.co.uk. (independent.co.uk)
President Emmanuel Macron planned an emergency meeting and a televised address on Sunday. (nypost.com)