Photos: Protests across France spiral into looting, blazes and clashes

France witnessed widespread unrest and chaos on the day of protests against soaring inflation, with clashes, blazes, and extensive looting gripping the nation. Nationwide marches turned violent, leading to extreme intensity street violence. The capital city of Paris was particularly affected, with whole streets devastated as groups of masked young men torched parked cars and ransacked shops.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu reported that 1,200 people were arrested and 150 police officers were injured during the unrest. The violence began on the sidelines of marches in major cities, with an estimated 550,000 people participating, according to the interior ministry. The CGT union claimed that 800,000 people took part in the demonstrations.

Police responded with tear gas and water cannon, facing projectiles and fireworks from the protesters. In Saint-Etienne, a 17-year-old boy had his right hand blown off by a crowd-control grenade. Gangs of youths roamed the streets, attacking police, setting fires, and breaking into shuttered stores to steal merchandise, including from luxury boutiques and consumer electronics stores.

The chaos extended beyond Paris, with town halls in Limoges, Marseille, and Lille suffering extensive damage, with one fire destroying a 140-year-old town hall. Macron vowed that those responsible for vandalism, attacking administrative offices or businesses, or looting would be prosecuted and punished. Opposition politicians capitalized on the chaos, with far-right candidate Marine Le Pen condemning the rioters and claiming that her far-left rival's party had legitimised the violence.

President Emmanuel Macron urged demonstrators to stay away from looting, describing it as contrary to their methods. The Yellow Vest movement, which previously protested against Macron's government over fuel tax hikes, called for the yellow and youth demonstrations, with protesters expressing anger over the cost of living, rising due to the war in the Middle East. Several protesters drew parallels with the French Revolution of 1789, vowing to take back the Bastille.