Protests across France descended into violence on Saturday, prompting President Emmanuel Macron to condemn attacks on public buildings and businesses as police clashed with demonstrators in several cities. Authorities reported hundreds of arrests, while fires, looting and serious injuries marred demonstrations over rising inflation.
“No room for violence in our Republic,” Macron wrote in a post on X late Saturday, warning that those responsible for attacking government offices, businesses and town halls would face prosecution and punishment.
The president also expressed support for law enforcement officers, describing them as guarantors of the public’s right to demonstrate peacefully. He said the country must stand together against those seeking to disrupt public institutions and prevent people from expressing their demands without violence.
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu also condemned the unrest, describing the violence as being of “extreme intensity”. In his statement on X, Lecornu said peaceful demonstrations had a legitimate place in French society but that arson, looting and attacks on public property were unacceptable.
He accused far-left groups of orchestrating violence in several cities, while saying other individuals had joined the unrest to loot shops and destroy property. Lecornu also warned that public funds were limited and could not be used indefinitely to cover the cost of damage caused by vandals.
The scale of the demonstrations remains disputed. France’s Interior Ministry estimated that around 550,000 people took part nationwide, while the CGT trade union put the figure at 800,000. Police made approximately 400 arrests, according to the ministry.
In Paris and other cities, officers deployed tear gas and water cannon against masked protesters who threw projectiles and set off fireworks. Several cars were set on fire in the French capital, sending smoke over central areas as police attempted to contain the unrest.
Les manifestations pacifiques ont toute leur place dans notre République. Les incendies, les pillages et les attaques n’en ont aucune.
Aujourd’hui, des groupes d’ultragauche ont organisé la violence dans plusieurs villes de France ; des délinquants s’y sont mêlés pour piller et détruire.
Au moment où certains cherchent à jeter l’opprobre sur nos forces de l’ordre, je veux dire aux Français qu’ils peuvent être fiers de leurs policiers et de leurs gendarmes. Ils ont affronté une violence d’une extrême intensité pour protéger nos concitoyens et ils méritent tout notre soutien.
À ceux qui clairement veulent faire de ces violences “un tour de chauffe” avant l’élection présidentielle, je le dis clairement : nous ne nous laisserons pas intimider. Personne n’imposera son agenda politique par la violence.
Les consignes données sont claires : empêcher les exactions, protéger les biens et les personnes, interpeller leurs auteurs et les déférer à la justice.
Nous irons jusqu’au bout de la discussion du projet de loi « casseurs-payeurs ». L’argent public est rare : il doit financer nos services publics, pas réparer sans fin ce que des casseurs détruisent. À eux d’en supporter le coût.
— Sébastien Lecornu (@SebLecornu) October 17, 2026
The violence also resulted in serious injuries. In the southern city of Saint-Etienne, a male demonstrator lost his hand after a police crowd-control grenade exploded, according to a police source cited by Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The incident followed another serious injury earlier in the month, when a 15-year-old lost his hand after a police stun grenade exploded during a protest in the northern city of Lens on October 5. The incidents have added to concerns surrounding the use of crowd-control weapons during demonstrations.
Several public buildings and commercial premises were targeted across the country. In Lyon, protesters set fire to a tourist office in the city centre. In Marseille and Lille, groups forced their way into town halls and vandalised the premises. A police compound in Bordeaux was also attacked.
Aucune place pour la violence dans notre République.
Ceux qui ont cassé, attaqué les préfectures comme les commerces, pillé jusqu’à nos mairies, seront poursuivis et punis.
Aux forces de l’ordre, garantes du droit à manifester, je dis le soutien de la Nation.
Nous ferons tous bloc face aux semeurs de chaos, qui ne cherchent qu’à abattre nos institutions et empêchent ceux qui expriment pacifiquement leurs revendications de le faire.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) October 17, 2026
In Limoges, flames reportedly reached the roof of the town hall after a group targeted the building following demonstrations, raising further concerns about damage to public infrastructure.
Businesses were also affected. Eyewitnesses reported looting at dozens of shops in Paris, Marseille, Nice, Bordeaux and Lille. In Lille, an Apple store was reportedly stripped by looters.
In Paris, a crowd of more than 300 protesters attempted to move along the Champs-Elysees, one of the capital’s main commercial avenues and home to major luxury retailers. Police used tear gas to prevent the group from advancing. Some demonstrators shouted “All cops are bastards”, a slogan widely associated with anti-police protests.
Paris Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire described the destruction in the capital region as extensive, saying that “entire streets have been devastated”.
The unrest comes amid weeks of student protests and growing political uncertainty in France ahead of elections expected in six months to replace Macron. The demonstrations have brought together large numbers of people protesting against rising inflation, although the violence and property damage have complicated the public response to the movement.
Macron’s government now faces the challenge of responding to public grievances while restoring order and holding those responsible for criminal acts accountable. The president’s statement drew a clear distinction between the right to peaceful protest and attacks on people, businesses and public institutions.
