Around 550,000 people participated in protests across France on 17/10, according to Minister of Interior Laurent Nunez. The CGT union, which organized the demonstrations, estimated participation at 800,000.
Most protesters marched peacefully. However, officials reported that radical elements targeted government headquarters, attacked official vehicles and police, and looted luxury stores and supermarkets.
The town hall in Limoges was set on fire. Black-clad protesters stormed Marseille's town hall and defaced the building, while Lyon's tourist information center also burned. Reuters news agency described this as "one of the worst waves of riots" France has faced in decades.
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu affirmed the government would "not be intimidated" by the violence. He accused "far-left forces and criminal elements" of causing instability just months before the presidential election. "To those who want to use this wave of violence as a 'kick-off' before the presidential election, I state clearly: We will not let ourselves be threatened. No one will be able to impose their political agenda through violence," he wrote on X.
Prime Minister Lecornu later announced about 1,200 arrests, adding that 150 police officers were injured during the protests.
President Emmanuel Macron declared that those committing acts of vandalism would be prosecuted and punished. He stated, "We will all unite against those who spread chaos, only seeking to destroy institutions and prevent people from expressing their demands peacefully."
Most protests began around noon, some earlier than scheduled. Many wore black, hooded, masked, and wore goggles to protect against tear gas.
"We are fighting because the cost of living is too expensive, fuel prices are too high," said Lola, a 19-year-old protester in Paris.
This incident surpassed the crowd size at the peak of the Yellow Vest movement, though it remained significantly lower than levels recorded during protests against Macron's retirement reform in 2023.
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Police arrest a protester in Marseille, southern France, on 17/10. *Photo: AFP*
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Masked protesters raise their hands while confronting French riot police near Gare du Nord station in Paris. *Photo: Reuters*
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An overview of Place de la Republique as protesters walk through tear gas smoke. *Photo: Reuters*
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Police charge into a crowd of protesters at Place de la Republique in Paris. *Photo: AFP*
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Fire devastates the town hall in Limoges, central France. *Photo: AFP*
The UNSA police union posted images showing crowds using sticks and bricks to attack security force vans at multiple locations. The union warned the government that law enforcement was at its breaking point. UNSA stated, "In every corner of France, our colleagues are being turned into 'punching bags'. Stoned, injured, trapped in real ambushes. Everyone, please take responsibility: this cannot go on indefinitely. The rope has been stretched to its maximum."
