Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 10:26am on 18 Oct 2026,Sunday International
Protests over rising living costs and declining public services turned violent across France on Saturday, with more than 1,200 people arrested and 150 police officers injured. Around 550,000 people took to the streets nationwide, including 110,000 in Paris, according to the Interior Ministry. Demonstrators and masked groups clashed with police, while shops were looted and buildings set ablaze in several cities. In Limoges, a fire severely damaged the historic town hall, while Lyon’s tourist office also caught fire. President Emmanuel Macron condemned the violence and vowed legal action against those responsible. The protests began over school conditions before expanding into wider economic grievances.
