France reports almost 2,400 arrests after riots, looting and arson during cost-of-living protests

France reports almost 2,400 arrests after riots, looting, and arson during cost-of-living protests.

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France's authorities reported almost 2,400 arrests across the country following riots, looting, and arson during cost-of-living protests. The unrest on Saturday has sharpened tensions ahead of France's 2027 presidential election, as anger over living costs collides with tight limits on government spending.

Clashes, fires, and looting broke out in several cities during Saturday's demonstrations. The country's Interior Ministry said about 1,000 officers were injured. Paris police reported 855 arrests, describing the figure as a record. Prosecutors said 517 people remained in custody, including 171 minors.

Most arrests in the capital were linked to suspected handling of stolen goods, participation in a group intending to commit violence, and vandalism. In central France, rioters set fire to Limoges' historic town hall, leaving much of it gutted. Mayor Guillaume Guerin condemned the destruction, stating that the country is in chaos.

Authorities reported attacks on public buildings and shops in Marseille, Lyon, Avignon, and Grenoble. Police used tear gas, batons, and water cannon in several cities. Demonstrators were also reported injured. The newspaper Le Figaro reported that a 17-year-old lost a hand to a grenade fired by police in Saint-Etienne.

President Emmanuel Macron addressed the nation due to the protests, saying 'nothing justifies' the violence. He promised 'full transparency' on police's response to the protests and called for a separation between protesters with legitimate demands and those who destroyed, smashed, and looted.