France hit by violent protests, looting and mass arrests

France is facing one of its most serious public-order crises in recent years after violent protests across the country led to about 1,800 arrests over the weekend. The unrest spread through Paris and other major cities, leaving torched cars, smashed shopfronts and burnt debris in its wake. In Limoges, the 19th-century town hall was set on fire as the demonstrations escalated.

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Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said investigations are under way to identify those responsible and bring them to justice. Officials in Paris said 557 people were taken into custody in the capital alone, describing the scale of the violence as unprecedented. The protests also saw hundreds of shops looted in Paris and other cities, with losses estimated in the hundreds of millions of euros.

The damage is believed to have affected around 1,500 businesses nationwide, adding to the economic impact of the unrest. One person died during the main march in Paris, although officials said the death was health-related and not linked to the violence. The protests have also raised concerns about the strain on police and local authorities as they respond to widespread disorder in multiple urban centres.

The unrest comes at a politically sensitive moment for President Emmanuel Macron, who is in the final months of his time in office before elections to choose his successor in six months. His office said he was due to address the nation on Sunday evening after meeting key ministers. The scale of the violence has increased pressure on the government to show it can restore order while also responding to the grievances driving the protests.

The demonstrations were linked to long-running anger over the cost of living, rising fuel prices and school conditions. They followed weeks of student protests that had already turned violent at times, and were joined by high school and university students, teachers and parents calling for better education conditions and government action. The unrest also drew on the wider protest tradition associated with the Yellow Vests movement, which has previously mobilised over economic pressure and public frustration.

What remains unclear is how many of the arrests will lead to charges and whether the protests will continue after the weekend violence. Authorities have said investigations are ongoing, but have not yet given a full breakdown of the damage or the number of people injured. Macron's address is likely to be closely watched for any sign of a policy response, while police and prosecutors continue to assess the scale of the disorder.

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