Photos show aftermath riots as France counts damage
France surveyed widespread destruction after protests over living costs and school conditions turned violent in several cities. Police reported 1,800 arrests nationwide, while the BBC cited about 1,800 and described damage to shops, cars and public buildings. In Limoges, fire badly damaged the historic town hall; Paris residents and shopkeepers began clearing debris from streets and storefronts.
France woke to shattered storefronts, burned cars and a heavy police presence after protests over rising living costs and school conditions turned violent across the country. The photos show aftermath riots in Paris and other cities, while police reported 1,800 arrests nationwide, including 855 in the Paris region.
Hundreds of thousands marched on Saturday, with the BBC reporting about 550,000 demonstrators. Most protests were peaceful, but masked groups fought police, looted businesses and set fires in several cities.
The damage was visible on Sunday morning. Shopkeepers swept broken glass from pavements as rubbish trucks cleared debris from Paris streets.
Photos show aftermath riots beyond Paris
In Paris, clashes saw police use tear gas and water cannon. Fires damaged vehicles and at least one restaurant was gutted. The BBC also reported that riot police charged a crowd in central Paris and struck several people with batons.
The unrest spread well beyond the capital. In Marseille, protesters broke into the city hall, while in Lille a McDonald’s was set on fire and an Apple store was looted, police said. The outlet reported widespread looting in Paris, Marseille, Lille and other areas.
Limoges suffered damage to a historic public building. Fire tore through the city hall, built in 1883 and designated a historic landmark in 1975. Local prefect Maurice Barate said that the roof had collapsed onto the lower floors and about two-thirds of the building’s exterior had disappeared.
“A catastrophe for heritage,” Barate said.
The consequences reached residents and businesses directly: shattered shopfronts, lost stock and damaged premises left owners facing cleanup after the demonstrations. The BBC reported that about 1,500 shops and retailers were damaged, citing the Retail and Trade Federation. At one clothes shop near Place de la République, the owner said looters were visible on CCTV for just over an hour and a half, and that he saw no police during that period.
Protests over costs and public services
Demonstrators gathered over rising fuel prices, the cost of living and deteriorating public services, including schools. Student protests had also called for more investment, with complaints about too few teachers and staff, crowded classrooms and run-down buildings, the BBC reported.
French President Emmanuel Macron had called for “calm and respect” before Saturday’s demonstrations, saying people had the right to protest but should respect others and property. The BBC reported that Macron was due to address the nation at 20:00 local time on Sunday.
The scale of the damage was also reflected in injuries. France’s interior ministry said more than 500 police officers, gendarmes and firefighters were injured during Saturday’s unrest, the BBC reported.
Paris residents described a night of destruction. “It's like we had a war,” resident Mehmet Ozeden said.
Police reported 1,800 arrests nationwide, including 855 in the Paris region.
