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France on a Knife-Edge: Cost-of-Living Protests Erupt into Unprecedented Violence and Record Arrests
Paris and several other French cities saw widespread protests on Saturday demanding better living conditions. The demonstrations quickly veered from their peaceful course, descending into unprecedented violence and vandalism and putting the French government in a difficult position six months before the presidential election.
Scenes of chaos and looting
The protests were marked by shocking scenes of disorder. Entire streets in Paris were vandalized, cars were set on fire, and dozens of shops—including shopping centers, pharmacies, luxury goods stores, and electronics retailers—were targeted in what was described as “organized” looting. According to Agence France-Presse reporters, masked vandals disabled surveillance cameras before smashing shop windows and looting the premises.
Public institutions were also targeted. Municipal buildings in cities including Limoges, Marseille, Lille, and Grenoble were vandalized or set on fire. Protesters also targeted the headquarters of the television channel CNews in Paris.
**Record security toll**
Security officials described Saturday’s events as reaching “unprecedented” levels. Police announced that 1,200 people had been arrested, calling it a “record” figure. Clashes left 150 police officers injured. In the city of Saint-Étienne, a 17-year-old boy’s right hand was amputated after a police grenade used to disperse crowds exploded.
Estimates of the number of people taking part varied. The Interior Ministry put the figure at around 550,000, while the CGT trade union raised it to 800,000.
Political reactions
In a forceful response, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu accused the “far left” and lawbreakers of fomenting the unrest. He said the government “will not give in to intimidation” and strongly rejected attempts to “impose political agendas through violence” ahead of next year’s presidential election.
Across the Atlantic, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance sparked controversy with his comments on the events, attributing the spread of violence in France to immigration crises and problems integrating into French society.
Source: Agence France-Presse (AFP)
