Major protests over cost of living in France turn violent with widespread looting
Hundreds of thousands of French people demonstrated on 17 October against rising living costs, with organisers reporting 550,000 to 800,000 participants nationwide including 110,000 in Paris. The peaceful marches were marred by significant looting and vandalism in multiple cities, prompting the arrest of approximately 400 people. Senior government figures condemned the violence and pledged that those responsible would face prosecution.
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Between 550,000 and 800,000 people participated in nationwide demonstrations across France on Saturday, 17 October, according to the interior ministry and trade unions including the CGT and the Union étudiante. Roughly 110,000 protesters marched in Paris alone. The demonstrations were originally called to voice anger at the high cost of living, and were joined by "yellow vest" activists protesting rising fuel prices.
The demonstrations in Paris were accompanied by widespread looting and vandalism. Eyewitnesses reported groups of young people smashing shop windows and stealing goods from retail outlets far from the official protest routes, including a Monoprix supermarket, a McDonald's restaurant, an SFR telecommunications shop and an Yves Rocher cosmetics store. A Kawasaki motorcycle dealership was set on fire. The specialist anti-riot police unit CRS 8 was deployed to the Les Halles district following reports of further looting near the Madeleine.
Disruption also occurred in other major cities. In Lille, protesters broke into the town hall, damaged the building and were subsequently removed by security forces. Marseille experienced a similar incident when several dozen individuals forced their way into the town hall, breaking windows, spraying graffiti and damaging a statue of Marianne, the national symbol of the French Republic. In Limoges, the historic Hôtel de Ville was destroyed by fire following the protest.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez condemned the "scenes of looting" across numerous cities and confirmed that approximately 400 people had been arrested nationwide. President Emmanuel Macron stated on social media that "there is no place for violence in our Republic" and pledged that those who vandalised and looted shops and town halls "will be pursued and punished." Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu asserted that the government "will not be intimidated" and suggested that some protesters intended to use the unrest as preparation for the upcoming presidential election.
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