Cost of living protests hit Belgium, Italy, Portugal and France

Hundreds of thousands of people marched across France on Saturday to protest rising living costs and school conditions. The French Interior Ministry reported that approximately 550,000 people participated in the demonstrations, including 110,000 in Paris. While the Financial Times reported tens of thousands were involved, the BBC World noted that the main march in Paris appeared largely peaceful during the afternoon before violence escalated.

Violent clashes, fires, and looting occurred in several cities. In Paris, riot police used water cannons and tear gas on crowds, and protesters reached the Champs-Élysées despite a ban on gatherings in sensitive areas. BBC World reported that groups lit fires in the streets and torched vehicles in locations such as the Place de la République, while looting and vandalism targeted businesses and city halls. In Limoges, a large fire in the town hall caused the roof to partly collapse.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez stated that 60 law enforcement officers were injured, including two who were hospitalized unconscious. At least 400 people were arrested during the demonstrations. President Emmanuel Macron vowed to punish those responsible for vandalism and looting, describing the perpetrators as agents of chaos.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, BBC World, Ajel English, Financial Times — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.