France riots: 1,800 arrested as cost-of-living protests turn violent

Rioting erupted in cities across France on Saturday 17 October as demonstrations against rising living costs and declining public services escalated into the worst unrest in years. The interior ministry put nationwide turnout at 550,000 people, including 110,000 in Paris, according to DW, but the CGT union estimated 800,000 protesters took part.

The violence has sharpened tensions ahead of France's 2027 presidential election, as anger over living costs collides with tight limits on government spending. The demonstrations brought together grievances over fuel prices, low wages and problems facing farmers and firefighters.

Government confirms scale of unrest

Nunez said more than 500 police officers, gendarmes and firefighters had been injured, a toll he described as provisional. Lecornu had earlier said more than 150 police officers were injured on Saturday, but did not say whether any protesters had been hurt.

Nunez confirmed reports that one person had his hand torn off in clashes with police on Saturday; French media reported he had tried to pick up a stun grenade. The police watchdog is investigating at least two dozen allegations of police violence, The Straits Times reported.

The material damage was considerable, Nunez said, pointing to damaged shops. About 1,500 shops and retailers were damaged, according to Alexandre Bompard, president of the Retail and Trade Federation, who estimated the cost at several hundreds of millions of euros.

In Limoges, the city hall was set ablaze; in Marseille, black-clad protesters broke into the city hall and defaced it with anarchic graffiti; and in Lyon, protesters torched the city's tourist office.

Government response and political fallout

President Emmanuel Macron vowed to prosecute and punish those responsible for the attacks and was due to address the nation on Sunday night after crisis talks. Politicians on the left and far right called for Nunez's resignation after the government appeared to have been caught by surprise by the scale of violence. Far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen accused the party of her far-left rival Jean-Luc Melenchon of having legitimised the violence.

The UNSA police union said officers were being used as punching bags and warned forces were at breaking point. With the 2027 presidential election approaching, the unrest has exposed deep divisions over living costs and public spending, and all eyes are on Macron's response.