France rocked by looting and fires as cost-of-living protests turn violent, 1,200 arrested

Paris was engulfed in chaos on Saturday as violent protests over soaring inflation turned into widespread looting and fires. The unrest followed weeks of student-led demonstrations and deepened political uncertainty ahead of presidential elections in six months' time. Whole streets in Paris were described as "devastated" by Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire as masked young men torched parked cars and ransacked shops.

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu confirmed that 1,200 people had been arrested and 150 police officers were injured during the "extreme intensity" violence. The unrest began during marches against the cost of living, which reportedly attracted 550,000 to 800,000 participants. Police used tear gas and water cannons against protesters, who threw projectiles and used fireworks.

A 17-year-old boy lost his right hand in Saint-Etienne after being hit by a crowd-control grenade. Gangs of youths roamed city streets, looting shops and setting fires, targeting supermarkets, pharmacies, luxury boutiques, and other establishments. Town halls in Limoges, Marseille, and Lille were also destroyed by fire. President Emmanuel Macron vowed that "those who carried out vandalism, attacked administrative offices or businesses, or carried out looting—even in our town halls, will be prosecuted and punished."

Opposition politicians seized on the chaos, with far-right candidate Marine Le Pen condemning the "rioters" and claiming her party would protect France from "the violence of the extreme left." Students and protesters drew parallels with the French Revolution of 1789, chanting slogans like "Everyone hates the police" and "Macron, resign."