Watch: Moment historic French town hall spire collapses in flames amid protests
Paris: The spire of a historic French town hall collapsed in a ball of flames on Saturday night after masked protesters set the 143-year-old building ablaze during nationwide demonstrations over the rising cost of living. Footage captured the moment the clock tower spire of Limoges town hall fell as flames engulfed the roof. Local authorities said the building, inaugurated in 1883, had been…
On Saturday night, the spire of Limoges' historic town hall collapsed in a blaze of flames during nationwide protests over the rising cost of living in France. Footage showed the clock tower spire of the 143-year-old building falling as the roof was engulfed in flames. Local authorities confirmed that the building, inaugurated in 1883, had been largely destroyed.
Rioters broke into the town hall around 6pm and ignited the fire, which firefighters fought off late into the night. Several nearby businesses were looted during the unrest. The prefecture reported that about 2,000 demonstrators gathered in Limoges, with more than 500 allegedly seeking confrontation. Four police officers suffered serious injuries, four police vehicles were destroyed, and 19 people were detained.
The protests, which drew about 550,000 people across France, resulted in clashes with police, arson, and looting in several cities, including Paris, Marseille, and Lyon. French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the violence and vowed to prosecute those responsible for attacking public property. Limoges Mayor Guillaume Guérin also denounced the attack, emphasizing that protesting does not justify destroying public property.
Similar scenes unfolded in other European countries, such as Belgium, Italy, and Portugal, with protesters expressing frustration over rising living costs and economic pressures.
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