Protests over living costs turn violent across France with clashes, fires and looting

Summary

Protests over higher living costs and declining conditions in schools and public services spread across France at the weekend, with reports of hundreds of thousands of people in the streets. France 24 and one Sydney Morning Herald report gave that figure, while another Sydney Morning Herald headline described tens of thousands rallying. Protesters clashed with police in Paris and other cities, and police responded with tear gas and water cannons. Several town halls were broken into, at least one was set on fire, and many shops were vandalised and ransacked. France 24 reported that one protester had a hand torn off by what appeared to be a police crowd-control grenade. Al Jazeera reported 1,200 arrests and 150 injured police officers, and The New York Times reported that France imposed scattered curfews on Monday. The New Statesman reports that France's paramilitary police, among the most ruthless in Europe, overwhelmingly support Marine Le Pen.

Timeline

1. New Statesman

   21 Oct 2026, 05:00 UTCSource ↗

   Reports that France's paramilitary police are among the most ruthless in Europe and overwhelmingly support Marine Le Pen, amid the protests.