Half a million protest in France as riots, looting erupt

About 550,000 people marched across France on Saturday, October 17, in protests against rising living costs and poor conditions in schools. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez gave that figure for 110 marches nationwide, while organizers, including the CGT union and student groups, said about 800,000 took part, the Associated Press reported. Nuñez said about 400 people were arrested and that more arrests would follow in the coming days, according to CNN.cnn.com+1

Most marchers were peaceful, but the day was marked by some of France's most violent protests in years. The unrest also comes as the country heads into an April presidential election to replace Emmanuel Macron, the BBC noted.cnn.com+1

Fires and looting in major cities

About 110,000 people marched in Paris, CNN reported. The main march there was largely calm in the afternoon. Later, groups set vehicles on fire around Place de la République, ransacked shops and burned down at least one restaurant, according to the BBC. In Lyon, a tourist office in a 19th-century building was destroyed by fire, and Mayor Grégory Doucet called it "a tragedy" for the city.cnn.com+1

Protesters broke into the town halls of Marseille and Lille and damaged them, and dozens of shops were looted, France 24 reported. The looted shops included a Hermès boutique in Marseille and an Apple ↗ 0.43% store in Lille. In Saint-Étienne, a young man lost his hand to a police grenade, according to the city's mayor. The Interior Ministry said 60 police officers were injured, AFP reported via Yahoo.yahoo.com+1

Government blames the 'ultra-left'

The Interior Ministry blamed the violence on the "ultra-left," CNBC reported. Writing on X, Macron said "ultraleft groups have orchestrated violence in several French cities" and vowed that those who "looted even our town halls, will be prosecuted and punished," Euronews reported.euronews.com+1

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said police faced "violence of extreme intensity." He called hard-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon's claim that police had been "unleashing" on protesters "dangerous and cynical," the BBC reported. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen said the protesters' demands had been "hijacked by the far left," according to France 24.france24.com+1

A student movement goes national

Students, union members and Yellow Vest activists joined the protests over high prices and inequality, DW reported. The movement began with weeks of protests by hundreds of thousands of high school students over staff shortages and run-down school buildings. On October 8, Education Minister Édouard Geffray promised 3,000 extra substitute teachers, but the protests kept growing, the BBC reported.amp.dw.com+1