France: Cost-of-Living Protests Turn Violent in Several Cities, Nearly 2,400 Arrested

Nearly 2,400 people were arrested across France after a day of nationwide protests over fuel prices, the cost of living and failing public services turned into rioting, looting and arson, French authorities said. Paris police alone recorded 855 arrests.

The Interior Ministry put turnout at 550,000 people, including 110,000 in Paris. Most marches were peaceful, but violence broke out in several cities, including Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Lille and Limoges, where rioters burned the historic town hall. About 1,000 police officers were injured, seven of them seriously, and shops were looted and cars set alight.

AFP reported that a 17-year-old protester lost a hand to a police crowd-control grenade in Saint-Étienne and that a 17-year-old girl lost an eye in Mulhouse. Macron promised full transparency about the police response.

In a national address on Sunday, Macron called for calm and order, said nothing justified the violence, and spoke of anger and shame. He did not announce a curfew, though local authorities were given the power to ban certain rallies if necessary.

Politicians traded blame. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said several thousand far-left individuals had set out to attack public buildings and fight police. Hard-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon criticised the Interior Minister and police chiefs for incompetence, and urged protesters not to loot. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen accused Mélenchon's party of legitimising violence and said the government was running on fumes. Both are expected to stand in the presidential election due next spring.

This report was expanded and corrected on 1 November 2026. An earlier version said authorities had admitted losing control, that the Louvre had closed after protesters announced a blockade, and that curfews were being demanded. We could not confirm those claims in the reporting we reviewed, so they have been removed.