France in flames: Luxury stores swept clean by looters, buildings set afire as thousands take to streets; what's happening in France ?
PTC News Desk: Protests over rising living costs and declining public services turned violent across France on Saturday. Tear gas filled the streets of Paris, fires broke out in several cities, and shops were looted as demonstrations escalated.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said around 550,000 people took part in protests across the country, including 110,000 in Paris. Organisers claimed that the turnout was higher. More than 1,200 people were arrested as the demonstrations turned violent, while Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said 150 police officers were injured in clashes.
BREAKING:
Paris right now, chaos caused by protesters. https://t.co/NyO00UJPQf
— Globe Eye News (@GlobeEyeNews) October 17, 2026
The protests initially began as student-led demonstrations over worsening conditions in schools. However, they have since grown into a wider movement involving trade unions and people angry over economic difficulties and the government’s handling of declining public services.
The main march in Paris remained largely peaceful during the afternoon, but the situation worsened towards evening. Some protesters set fires in the streets, torched vehicles near major locations, including Place de la Republique, and clashed with riot police.
Police responded by firing tear gas and using water cannons. Video footage showed officers charging at crowds and hitting several protesters with batons.
Buildings set ablaze, shops looted
Clothing and food shops were also targeted in Paris, while government buildings in Lille and Marseille were reportedly broken into. Photographs and videos showed protesters climbing historical statues as fires burned nearby, highlighting the scale of the unrest in several parts of the country.
The violence spread beyond Paris, with several cities reporting damage to buildings. In Lyon, the city’s tourist office caught fire. Mayor Gregory Doucet described the incident as a tragedy. In Limoges, a major fire broke out at the town hall, causing part of the roof to collapse, according to the local prefecture. Damage to buildings was also reported in Grenoble, Avignon, Pau, Montpellier and Valence.
What triggered protests in France?
The protests began with growing anger over conditions in France’s secondary schools, known as lycees, which cater to students aged 15 to 18. Hundreds of thousands of students have taken to the streets in recent weeks to protest staff shortages and poorly maintained facilities. They have accused the government of failing to address their concerns.
The movement has since gained support from trade union members and other groups protesting against rising living costs. Members of the Yellow Vest movement, known in French as gilets jaunes, have also joined the demonstrations. The movement first emerged in 2018 over rising living expenses and fuel prices. The latest protests have brought together people with different concerns but a common frustration over what they see as the government’s failure to bring about social and political change.
The unrest also left protesters with serious injuries. Saint-Etienne Mayor Regis Juanico said a young man had "had his hand blown off by a grenade". "Such a tragedy should never have happened," Mayor Juanico said in a social media post.
The Interior Ministry said "targeted acts of violence" had been carried out by "hooded individuals" in parts of Paris and in cities including Marseille, Rennes, Toulouse and Angers.
French Police response under scrutiny
The violence has also raised questions about police methods, with the police watchdog investigating at least two dozen complaints of alleged police brutality.
Among those injured was a teenager who reportedly lost a hand after picking up a stun grenade. Defending the police response, the Paris Police Prefecture said officers would not back down in the face of violence. “We do not back down in the face of rioters and those who have come to attack law enforcement,” it said, adding that officers had stood their ground with “courage and professionalism”.
- PTC NEWS
