France protests latest: Macron says ‘no place for violence’ as hundreds arrested after clashes with police

Emmanuel Macron has said there is “no room for violence” after hundreds of thousands took to the streets to protest France’s cost of living crisis on Saturday.

“Those who have broken, attacked the prefectures as well as businesses, looted even our town halls, will be prosecuted and punished,” the French president said.

At least 1,200 people people were arrested including “extremely dangerous profiles”, prime minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Saturday according to Le Parisien. The government says around 550,000 protesters took part across the country, with organisers estimating the number at 800,000.

The interior ministry saying there had been violent incidents involving hooded individuals in Paris, Marseille, Rennes, Toulouse and Angers.

A large police presence was visible in central Paris, especially near landmarks such as the Avenue des Champs-Elysees and the Arc de Triomphe, with police firing tear gas at protesters who had climbed on monuments.

Protesters chanted about a repeat of the French Revolution, declaring: “It's the Revolution − we're taking the Bastille!" as they stormed the mayor’s offices in Marseille, according to Le Monde.

The protests began last ‌month at high schools in Paris' poor northern suburbs, where anger over teacher absences and shabby facilities quickly morphed into a nationwide movement against inequality, weak public spending and falling standards.

Key Points

Around 1,200 arrested including 'extremely dangerous' individuals, says French PM
Macron: There is no room for violence in France
Teenage boy has hand torn off by grenade - reports
107 police officers injured in Marseille, three seriously
Watch: Police vehicles targeted by violent protesters in Paris
Paris protests in full swing as demonstrators clash with police

Around 1,200 protesters arrested across major French cities

08:03 , Adam Withnall

French prime minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Saturday evening that some 1,200 people had been arrested as part of the protests, which a union said involved up to 800,000 demonstrators.

Large groups gathered in Paris and Marseille ahead of the official marches and hours later protests erupted across the whole country.

Masked protesters stormed Marseille's town hall after ramming the doors with security barriers in the morning, and were followed by attacks on town halls in Grenoble and Lille.

Protesters later set fire to the tourism office in Lyon in eastern France and attempted to prevent firefighters from tackling the blaze.

French police response under scrutiny

06:22 , Adam Withnall

The protests in France began last month at high schools in Paris' working-class northern suburbs, where anger over teacher shortages and shabby facilities evolved into a broader movement focused on inequality, public spending and living standards.

Police tactics have drawn criticism following injuries among demonstrators, including a teenager who lost a hand after picking up a stun grenade.

The police watchdog is investigating at least two dozen allegations of police violence.

Prime minister Sebastien Lecornu said more than 150 police officers had been injured in Saturday's protests, but did not say whether any protesters had ⁠been hurt.

Interior minister Laurent Nunez confirmed reports that one person had his hand torn off in clashes with police on Saturday. French media reported he tried to pick up a stun grenade.

The UNSA police union posted a video on X showing crowds attacking police vans with clubs and ‌bricks in multiple locations. The union warned the government police forces were at breaking point.

"Today again, in every corner of France, our colleagues are being used as punching bags. Pelted with stones, injured, trapped in real ambushes," the union said. "Let everyone take responsibility: this cannot go onindefinitely. The rope is stretched to its maximum."

French PM says government 'will not be intimidated'

04:30 , Adam Withnall

French prime minister Sebastien Lecornu said the government would not be "intimidated" by violence, and blamed the unrest on the "ultra-left" and criminals just months before a presidential election next year.

"To those who clearly want to use this violence as a 'warm-up' before the presidential election, I say clearly: We will not let ourselves be intimidated. No one will impose their political agenda through violence," he wrote in a post on X.

Some 1,200 people had been arrested as part of the protests, Lecornu added while visiting the sites in the evening.

Around 550,000 people had participated in the demonstrations across the country, interior minister Laurent Nunez said.

The CGT union told ⁠Reuters it estimated the number of protesters at 800,000.

Hundreds arrested as protesters clash with police across France over rising living costs

03:00 , Alex Croft

Clashes have broken out between police and protesters in cities across France as tens of thousands of people angered by rising costs and declining public services took to the streets – in some of the country's most violent protests of recent times.

More than 270 people have been arrested across the country, while in Lyon, protesters torched the tourist office. In Marseille, the mayor said the town hall had been vandalised and that additional police were being sent to the city following talks with the government.

The protesters said most people were protesting peacefully and put much of the violence down to troublemakers who had set out to cause damage and clash with the police. The Interior Ministry said, however, that violence was increasing, and that there had been "confrontations with law enforcement, looting or attempted looting of shops, attacks on and damage to public buildings." It blamed the unrest on ⁠what it described as the "ultra-left".

Holly Evans brings the full report:

Image from: France protests latest: Macron says ‘no place for violence’ as hundreds arrested after clashes with police

Hundreds arrested as protesters clash with police across France over living costs

How mass protests unfolded across France on Saturday

02:00 , Alex Croft

Thousands of people spilled onto the streets early on Saturday morning to protest falling education standards and the cost of living in France.

Large groups gathered in Paris and Marseille ahead of the official marches and more than 150 arrests were made before midday.

Just a couple of hours later, huge demonstrations erupted across the whole country, with tens of thousands of people taking part.

Police have been out in full force, firing tear gas, using stun grenades, water cannons, and chasing protesters with batons.

French president Emmanuel Macron appealed for “calm” and called on demonstrators to show “respect for people and property”.

According to the Yellow Vests, one of the organisations leading today's protests, there were 1,756 mobilisations taking place on Saturday, including 811 demonstrations.

Masked protesters stormed Marseille's town hall after ramming the doors with security barriers in the morning, and were followed by attacks on town halls in Grenoble and Lille.

Protesters later set fire to the tourism office in Lyon in eastern France and attempted to prevent firefighters from tackling the blaze.

Elsewhere across France, businesses and schools have been vandalised and looted.

Some 272 ⁠people had been arrested by mid-afternoon after violent incidents involving hooded individuals, including in Paris, Marseille in the south, Rennes in the northwest, Toulouse in the southwest and Angers in the west, the Interior Ministry said.

Protesters attempting to 'converge on seats of power', French ministry says

01:01 , Alex Croft

The French interior ministry has said that “several unsanctioned protest groups are attempting to converge on seats of power”.

With over 270 people arrested, the ministry said that police and law enforcement is continuing to stop protesters and to secure institutional sites.

They listed the following hotspots:

In Paris, protests have turned violent in Place de la Republique, with a water cannon deployed
In Marseille, intruders entered the city hall and businesses were vandalised
In Lyon, the tourist office was set on fire and shops were damaged
In Avignon, individuals entered the courtyard of the Vaucluse prefecture
In Grenoble, the city hall was damaged
In Pau, Montpellier, Toulouse and Valence, businesses have been vandalised

Left-wing leader says protesters have 'calmly mobilised'

Sunday 18 October 2026 00:01 , Holly Evans

Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who leads France's left-wing party La France Insoumise (LFI - France Unbowed), has blamed the police for “relentlessly gassing” the starting point of the march.

On X, he wrote: “While the news channels flood us with images of violence in dozens of cities, everything is unfolding in calm with tens of thousands of people calmly mobilised. Two worlds, two realities.”

In a separate post, he said: “In Paris, the disorder is orchestrated by the prefect who bans access to Place de la République by relentlessly gassing it. And yet, it's the official and authorized starting point.

“The confrontation seems to be the goal of this "maintaining order" strategy. Pathetic. So, everywhere, spontaneous processions form to demonstrate anyway. And everywhere there are no police, it's calm and good spirits!”

Mr Mélenchon has publicly supported the student protests in recent weeks.

Pendant que les chaînes d'info inondent d'images de violence dans des dizaines de villes, tout se déroule dans le calme avec des dizaines de milliers de gens calmement mobilisés. Deux mondes, deux réalités. pic.twitter.com/hMpTPAnNYT
— Jean-Luc Mélenchon (@JLMelenchon) October 17, 2026

Dozens of shops looted by rioters across Marseille

Saturday 17 October 2026 23:30 , Alex Croft

Dozens of shops have been looted in Marseille where protests erupted early on Saturday.

Local media has reported that several businesses, including food shops and luxury goods stores, have come under attack.

Marseille's naval firefighters said they had been called to a sports shoe shop after a fire broke out inside.

Earlier, rioters stormed the city’s town hall, shouting: “It's the Revolution, we're taking the Bastille.”

The mayor of Marseille had said additional police were being sent to the city following talks with the prime minister and interior minister.

Around 1,200 arrested including 'extremely dangerous' individuals, says French PM

Saturday 17 October 2026 23:19 , Alex Croft

The number of people arrested on Saturday has increased to 1,200, French prime minister Sebastien Lecornu has said.

Speaking to reporters, he said the arrests include “extremely dangerous profiles”, according to Le Parisien.

Police use water cannon in famous Place de la Republique

Saturday 17 October 2026 23:09 , Holly Evans

A water cannon has been deployed at the famous Place de la République in Paris, with pictures showing violent confrontations between police and masked protesters.

In a post on social media, Paris police wrote: “The procession has set off.

“Several hundred hostile individuals remain at Place de la République to attack law enforcement and emergency services and set everything ablaze.

“Police are using the water cannon to keep them at a distance, proceeding with the dispersal of violent groups and arrests, while @pompiersparis intervene to extinguish the fires.”

#17octobre | Le cortège s’est élancé.

Plusieurs centaines d’individus hostiles demeurent Place de la République pour s’en prendre aux forces de l’ordre et de secours et tout brûler.

Les policiers font usage de l’engin lanceur d’eau pour maintenir à distance, procèdent à la… pic.twitter.com/HysQsEHHQu
— Préfecture de Police (@prefpolice) October 17, 2026

Paris police: 'We do not back down in the face of rioters'

Saturday 17 October 2026 22:49 , Alex Croft

Paris police told protestors that they will “not back down” as demonstrations erupted across the capital today.

More than 150 people have been arrested across France, with Paris police firing tear gas at protesters climbing on monuments.

“We do not back down in the face of rioters and those who come to attack the law enforcement forces,” the force wrote on X.

“On Republic, the police are targeted by hostile individuals who have come looking for a fight.

“They face it with courage and professionalism.”

Earlier this morning, police called on protestors to “express their demands calmly and in respect for public order.

“Demonstrating is a right. Disrupting traffic on public roads is not,” the force said.

Police allowed to use stun grenades despite recent criticism

Saturday 17 October 2026 22:29 , Alex Croft

The police have drawn criticism for their response due to a grisly list of injuries among demonstrators, including one adolescent who had his hand blown off after picking up a stun grenade.

Lecornu said more than 900 police had also been injured.

The internal police watchdog is investigating at least two dozen cases of alleged police violence.

France suspended the use of stun grenades for the student demonstrations, but Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said they could be used on Saturday.

"If there were to be clashes, all types of intermediate weapons can be used," he told Telematin TV on Friday.

French riot police charge amid clashes with protesters (Reuters)

Teenage boy has hand torn off by grenade - reports

Saturday 17 October 2026 22:10 , Alex Croft

A 17-year-old teenage boy has had his hand torn off by a grenade, according to reports.

An investigation has been opened to “determine the causes of the injuries” and will be lead by national police, the Saint-Étienne prosecutor's office said, according to Le Parisien.

Interior minister Laurent Nunez said: “We are told that it was a grenade from the gendarmerie. I cannot confirm that.

“There will obviously be an investigation.”

Roof of Limoges town hall collapses after being engulfed in flames

Saturday 17 October 2026 22:08 , Alex Croft

A tow hall in the central French city of Limoges has collapsed after it was set on fire earlier on Saturday.

Dramatic footage shows the moment the historic building’s roof caved in as it was engulfed in flames.

"The roof has collapsed onto the lower floors, except in the west wing, and two-thirds of the facade have already disappeared," state representative Maurice Barate said according to Le Parisian.

Mr Barate described it as a "heritage catastrophe" and a "deliberate act by vandals."

Local authorities have advised residents to avoid the area for safety reasons.

La mairie de Limoges s’effondre… 🥹
Classé monument historique, le bâtiment existait depuis 150 ans (1876) pic.twitter.com/UW3Ej8UNm3
— Destination Télé (@DestinationTele) October 17, 2026

107 police officers injured in Marseille, three seriously

Saturday 17 October 2026 22:00 , Alex Croft

In Marseille, 107 police officers have been injured including three “seriously”, according to one of the areas prefects.

"Alongside the acts of looting and violence witnessed by the city of Marseille today, 107 police officers were injured, three of them very seriously," Jacques Witkowski, the prefect of Bouches-du-Rhône, said according to Le Parisien

He added: "I respectfully thank the law enforcement officers who were mobilized on the front lines throughout the day and who are still holding on. I wish a speedy recovery to the injured men and women."

Police vehicles targeted by violet protesters in Paris

Saturday 17 October 2026 21:51 , Alex Croft

Police vehicles have been targeted in Paris by violent protesters.

Footage shows the moment French police vehicles, some appearing to have burst tires, attempting to escape a crowd that were launching projectiles.

Des véhicules de police sont prises pour cible par la foule dans le secteur République à Paris.#Paris #17octobre pic.twitter.com/yMReav1Tie
— Luc Auffret (@LucAuffret) October 17, 2026

Melenchon urges protesters not to loot and pillage

Saturday 17 October 2026 21:48 , Alex Croft

French left-wing leader Jean-Luc Melenchon has urged protesters not to loot and pillage in areas where clashes with police took place.

“I don't know who will hear my voice in such circumstances, but my message is clear: those who share our fight have no place in looting, in pillaging,” Melenchon, who has backed peaceful protests over cost of living concerns in France, wrote on X.

“Whatever the responsibilities of those in power and their incompetents and their violence, we must refuse to take part in actions without political meaning and contrary to our methods.”

Dans Paris, le commandement aberrant a ouvert la porte au chaos. Les chefs ne savent plus que faire, la troupe a peur et se déchaîne.

Je ne sais pas qui entendra ma voix dans de telles circonstances, mais mon message est clair : ceux qui partagent notre combat n'ont rien à faire…
— Jean-Luc Mélenchon (@JLMelenchon) October 17, 2026

In pictures: Protestors clash with police in violent demonstrations

Saturday 17 October 2026 21:30 , Alex Croft

Why are protests taking place at petrol stations and oil depots?

Saturday 17 October 2026 21:01 , Alex Croft

As demonstrations explode across France on Saturday, hundreds of people will head to petrol stations, oil depots, and refineries to protest.

The nationwide movement is part of a revolt against growing inequalities, including rising fuel prices and the cost of living.

Yellow Vests, one of the organisations leading today's protests, said 384 protests will take place at petrol stations in France, 38 at oil depots and five at refineries.

It said: “The gross refining margin has multiplied by 4.4 between the 2025 average and August 2026. It is 8.4 times higher than in May 2017, at the time of Emmanuel Macron's election.

“Over the same period, the distribution margin of the stations remained stable: 28.1 cents per litre of diesel before the crisis, 26.7 cents between March and May 2026.

“The action takes place in front of the pumps, where the price is displayed, and upstream: in front of the refineries, where the margin has been multiplied, and in front of the oil depots that supply the stations.”

A 19-year-old protester in Paris name Lola said: “We are fighting because the cost of living is too harsh, because the price of fuel is too high, because high school pupils are being violently attacked and hurt all over the country just for trying to protest and ask for more teachers and decent learning conditions.”

Watch: Police use tear gas and water cannon against protesters in Paris

Saturday 17 October 2026 20:31 , Alex Croft

Macron: There is no room for violence in France

Saturday 17 October 2026 20:26 , Alex Croft

We’ve heard again from French president Emmanuel Macron who has said there is “no room for violence” after hundreds of thousands took to the streets to protest France’s cost of living crisis on Saturday.

“Those who have broken, attacked the prefectures as well as businesses, looted even our town halls, will be prosecuted and punished,” the French president said.

He expressed his support for law enforcement against the “sowers of chaos” who seek to “bring down our institutions”.

Aucune place pour la violence dans notre République.

Ceux qui ont cassé, attaqué les préfectures comme les commerces, pillé jusqu’à nos mairies, seront poursuivis et punis.

Aux forces de l’ordre, garantes du droit à manifester, je dis le soutien de la Nation.

Nous ferons tous…
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) October 17, 2026

Around 400 arrested on Saturday, says interior minister

Saturday 17 October 2026 20:24 , Alex Croft

Around 400 people have been arrested in Saturday’s widespread protests, Laurent Nunez, France’s Minister of the Interior has said.

Mr Nunez was speaking to French media after a day which has seen major clashes between demonstrators and police across the country.

His ministry says around 550,000 demonstrators participated in France, while organisers said there were around 800,000.

French police response placed under the microscope

Saturday 17 October 2026 19:59 , Alex Croft

The protests in France began last ‌month at high schools in Paris' poor northern suburbs, where anger over teacher shortages and shabby facilities evolved into a broader movement focused on inequality, public spending and living standards.

But they have now spread into a widespread display of discontent over the cost of living in France.

Police tactics have drawn criticism following injuries among demonstrators, including a teenager who lost a hand after picking up a stun grenade.

Lecornu said more than 900 police officers had also been injured in previous protests.

The police watchdog is investigating at least two dozen allegations of police violence.

France among several European countries facing unrest

Saturday 17 October 2026 19:28 , Alex Croft

In protests partly inspired by those in France, several hundred mostly young people protested in Brussels, and some clashed with police.

Belgian student groups have said they are protesting against rising education costs and reforms they fear will make higher education less accessible.

In Albania, police fired what appeared to be rubber bullets at protesters during a fifth day of mass student demonstrations calling for Prime Minister Edi Rama to step down.

In Portugal, tens of thousands took to the streets of Lisbon following days of unrest to protest against housing and other living costs. Housing prices in Portugal have doubled since 2017, fuelling one of the worst affordability crises in Europe.

In Italy, a march against high costs of living in Milan degenerated into disorder, with police clearing the central Cathedral square with tear gas.

Police in Bologna used water cannon to try to disperse crowds and made seven arrests after another protest turned violent, the ANSA news agency reported.

Demonstrators react to tear gas fired by police during a students' protest in Brussels, Belgium (Reuters)

Hundreds arrested as protesters clash with police across France over rising living costs

Saturday 17 October 2026 18:59 , Alex Croft

Clashes have broken out between police and protesters in cities across France as tens of thousands of people angered by rising costs and declining public services took to the streets – in some of the country's most violent protests of recent times.

More than 270 people have been arrested across the country, while in Lyon, protesters torched the tourist office. In Marseille, the mayor said the town hall had been vandalised and that additional police were being sent to the city following talks with the government.

The protesters said most people were protesting peacefully and put much of the violence down to troublemakers who had set out to cause damage and clash with the police. The Interior Ministry said, however, that violence was increasing, and that there had been "confrontations with law enforcement, looting or attempted looting of shops, attacks on and damage to public buildings." It blamed the unrest on ⁠what it described as the "ultra-left".

Holly Evans brings the full report:

Tens of thousands protest in France over rising prices – with more than 270 arrests

Protesters draw parallels with French Revolution

Saturday 17 October 2026 18:35 , Alex Croft

French protesters have chanted that another revolution is underway, with hundreds of protesters arrested as demonstrations sweep across France over the cost of living crisis.

"It's the Revolution − we're taking the Bastille!" shouted protesters as they stormed the mayor’s offices in Marseille, according to Le Monde, drawing comparison to the French Revolution of 1789.

In La Rochelle, marchers held placards reading “revolution or death”, while in Montpellier signs read: “the people will win”.

How mass protests unfolded across France today

Saturday 17 October 2026 18:04 , Harriette Boucher

Thousands of people spilled onto the streets early this morning to protest falling education standards and the cost of living in France.