Videos Show Tear Gas, Fireworks Being Fired During Violent Paris Protests
Videos show tear gas and fireworks during violent Paris protests as more than 1,300 people are arrested across France amid unrest.
Violent clashes erupted in Paris during a mass demonstration, with tear gas and fireworks fired by masked protesters. The confrontations took place near Porte de Vincennes, marking the end of a largely peaceful march against rising living costs and economic inequality. Elsewhere in France, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets for a second consecutive weekend of demonstrations. Police made 1,314 arrests nationwide on Saturday, and 53 officers were injured, according to France 24.
The government had increased security measures following violent and looting incidents the previous weekend, anticipating presidential elections in April and May 2027. France’s Interior Ministry estimated 410,000 people participated in the demonstrations nationwide, while the CGT trade union put the figure at over 800,000. In Paris, police reported about 110,000 participants in the main march.
Initially peaceful, the demonstration turned violent near its endpoint in eastern Paris. Police charged protesters with batons as tear gas and water cannon were deployed against around 500 hooded youths. Similar clashes were reported in other cities, including Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, and Grenoble, though most demonstrations remained peaceful.
Authorities deployed around 70,000 police officers and gendarmes across France on Saturday, exceeding the number from the previous weekend. Central Paris saw extensive precautions, with businesses securing premises, museums suspending public access, and more than 20 metro stations closed. Major cultural venues, including the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, and Paris Opera, were advised to shut their doors for safety.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez accused groups linked to the far left and radical left of attempting to provoke disorder as demonstrations ended. He praised police for their efforts and condemned the violence. Newsweek contacted Nuñez for comment on Sunday. The demonstrations, driven by anger over living costs and economic inequality, are part of a broader wave of protests.
The Yellow Vests movement has called for further demonstrations on October 31, with authorities facing ongoing pressure to maintain public order amidst economic and social grievances.
Written by urgent.news from Newsweek's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
