A protester died in Paris, around 1,200 people were arrested, 150 police officers and gendarmes were injured, and a 17-year-old lost his hand after a police grenade exploded during nationwide demonstrations that shook France on Saturday.
The protests, centred on demands for action on the rising cost of living, greater investment in education and improvements to public services, were marked by serious unrest in several major cities. Public buildings were set on fire, shops were looted and demonstrators clashed with security forces for hours.
According to the French Interior Ministry, around 550,000 people took part in demonstrations across the country, while organisers and the CGT trade union estimated participation at 800,000.
Protester dies after cardiac arrest in Paris
French broadcaster BFMTV, citing a police source, reported the death of a protester in the French capital.
According to the network, the man fell ill on Boulevard de Magenta, along the route taken by the demonstration.
Other protesters attempted to help him and transported him to the first-aid station at Château d'Eau, but he died outside the facility despite efforts to assist him.
The Paris Police Prefecture confirmed the death, stating that it involved "a person who died following a cardiorespiratory arrest".
Central Paris turns into a battleground
In the French capital, where approximately 110,000 people participated in the demonstrations, the most serious clashes were concentrated around Place de la République.
Groups of masked protesters battled police for hours, prompting officers to deploy tear gas.
Demonstrators also attempted to approach government ministries and the Élysée Palace, while the headquarters of television network CNews came under attack.
Most of the arrests were made in Paris, with minors among those detained.
Historic Limoges town hall engulfed by fire
Extensive damage was reported in Limoges, where a fire destroyed a large section of the city's historic town hall.
The historic Limoges Town Hall in France has collapsed as a result of riots in the country https://t.co/pK5mq18pjZ
— internet hall of fame (@InternetH0F) October 18, 2026
The blaze, which may have been caused by a Molotov cocktail, spread through the 19th-century building and caused significant destruction.
In Marseille, groups of masked individuals forced their way into the city hall after breaking through the entrance and painted slogans on interior walls. Widespread looting of commercial premises was also reported.
Violent incidents were also recorded in Lyon, where a building housing a tourist office was set ablaze and several shops were damaged.
In Lille, the town hall sustained damage, while in Grenoble a fire in a building forced residents to evacuate.
🇫🇷 Footage from central Paris today amid intense rioting across France. https://t.co/Q8YnbJmh2a
— Europa.com (@europa) October 17, 2026
Teenager loses hand in grenade explosion
One of the most serious incidents occurred in Saint-Étienne, where a 17-year-old lost his hand after a grenade fired by police exploded.
According to reports, the teenager allegedly picked up the grenade, resulting in devastating injuries.
The incident added to the toll from a day during which violence escalated in several parts of the country.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said 150 police officers and gendarmes were injured during the unrest, while arrests reached 1,200.
Macron: 'Those responsible will be prosecuted and punished'
The violence triggered a fierce political confrontation, with the French government condemning the unrest and directing criticism towards the far left.
President Emmanuel Macron said those responsible for the destruction would be held accountable, denouncing individuals who were "spreading chaos" and seeking to attack state institutions while preventing peaceful demonstrators from exercising their rights.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu also made clear that the government would not yield to violence.
"No one will impose their political agenda through violence," he said in a social media post.
The Interior Minister accused the far left of inciting disorder, intensifying the political dispute surrounding the demonstrations and the stance of Jean-Luc Mélenchon's La France Insoumise movement.
Peaceful protesters joined nationwide rallies
Despite the widespread unrest, a large number of citizens participated peacefully in demonstrations across France.
Protesters called for measures to address the rising cost of living, increased funding for education and improvements to public services.
