Buildings set on fire, shops looted, over 1,000 arrested as protests against rising living costs in France turn violent

Protests against rising living costs and declining public services in France turned violent, with over 1,000 arrests made and historic buildings damaged or destroyed. In Limoges, a 143-year-old landmark was largely lost to a fire set by masked protesters, causing the roof to collapse and two-thirds of the exterior to disappear. The town hall was partially destroyed, with witnesses describing a catastrophic loss of heritage and condemning the act as deliberate.

Firefighters arrived late to control the blaze, as protesters smashed windows and entered buildings to start fires. The violence extended to other French cities, including Marseille and Lyon, where demonstrators looted luxury shops and supermarkets, defaced public buildings, and attacked police vehicles and officers. Protests in France have involved hundreds of thousands of people, with both peaceful marches and violent outbreaks.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez reported around 550,000 participants in demonstrations, while the CGT union estimated turnout at 800,000. French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu claimed around 1,200 people were arrested during the protests. President Emmanuel Macron's government faces challenges in addressing the cost-of-living crisis and controlling France's debt while dealing with opposition groups reluctant to compromise.