France Counts Cost of Violent Protests as 1,800 People Are Arrested

 France is assessing the damage caused by widespread violence during nationwide protests, with more than 1,800 people arrested following clashes with police, looting and arson attacks that affected several cities.

The unrest erupted on Saturday during demonstrations driven by public anger over rising living costs, deteriorating public services and concerns about conditions in schools. Although hundreds of thousands of people participated in the protests, violent groups attacked businesses, public buildings and security personnel in several locations.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez disclosed on Sunday that approximately 1,800 people had been arrested, with investigations underway to identify those responsible for the destruction.

Paris recorded 855 arrests, which police described as a record for the city in a single day. Authorities also reported widespread damage to shops, vehicles and public infrastructure.

One of the most significant incidents occurred in Limoges, southwestern France, where a historic town hall was set ablaze and largely destroyed. The attack prompted strong condemnation from local authorities, who warned that restoring the building would require substantial financial resources.

Several hundred businesses were also damaged or looted during the demonstrations. French retailer Carrefour reported that 50 of its stores had been affected, including 20 that were looted, with losses estimated at tens of millions of euros.

The violence extended to other major cities, including Marseille, Lyon and Bordeaux, where demonstrators clashed with police and groups of looters targeted commercial establishments.

Authorities said more than 500 police officers, firefighters and paramedics were injured during the unrest, although the figures remained provisional. A 17-year-old boy also suffered severe injuries to his right hand after a crowd-control grenade exploded in Saint-Etienne.

The demonstrations attracted between 550,000 and 800,000 participants nationwide, according to differing estimates from the Interior Ministry and the CGT trade union.

The protests followed weeks of student demonstrations over conditions in schools and teacher shortages, particularly in working-class suburbs. The movement subsequently expanded to include grievances over inflation, the rising cost of living, public spending and declining public services.