World · 15 d ago
Cost-of-living protests in France turn into some of the worst riots in decades
Hundreds of thousands marched peacefully on Saturday, Oct 17, but fringe groups looted shops, attacked police and set Limoges city hall on fire.
Interior ministry
550,000
CGT union
800,000
The interior minister counted about 550,000 protesters across France, while the CGT union put the figure at 800,000.
People arrested
1,200 arrests
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said about 1,200 people were arrested and more than 150 police officers were injured.
"We will not let ourselves be intimidated," Lecornu wrote, blaming the "ultra-left" and criminals months before the 2027 presidential election.
— Sebastien Lecornu, French prime minister
Background
The movement began in September in high schools in the northern suburbs of Paris over teacher shortages, then widened to inequality and living costs.
