France protests erupt into looting and fires as 1,200 arrested, 150 police hurt
PARIS: Clashes between police and protesters, massive looting and multiple blazes gripped France on Saturday, as nationwide marches against soaring inflation degenerated into street violence of “extreme intensity.”
Protests against rising inflation erupted into chaos and destruction across France on Saturday. Nationwide marches degenerated into violent riots, with looting, arson, and police injuries reported in major cities. French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu confirmed that 1,200 people were arrested and 150 police officers sustained injuries.
The violence began at protests in Paris and spread to other cities, where gangs of youths attacked businesses, set fires, and clashed with authorities. In Paris alone, numerous shops were looted, including supermarkets, pharmacies, luxury boutiques, and electronics stores. The unrest follows weeks of student protests and threatens political stability as France prepares for presidential elections in six months.
Opposition politicians seized on the chaos, with far-right candidate Marine Le Pen accusing the left of legitimising the violence.
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