In brief
On Saturday, roughly 550,000 demonstrators flooded French cities, initially calling for higher education budgets and measures against consumer inflation. The marches turned violent, with firebombed shops and abandoned vehicles. Police deployed tear gas and water cannons, detaining more than 1,200 people. President Macron condemned the disorder and pledged to prosecute offenders.
Massive protests erupt across France, stirring chaos and arrests
Around 550,000 people took to streets in Paris, Lyon, Marseille and other major cities, demanding greater investment in education and more action on rising living costs. The movement, seeded by weeks of student marches, quickly broadened to include workers frustrated by economic hardship.
What began as peaceful rallies soon devolved into violence as some demonstrators set cars and buildings aflame and looted shops. Firefighters and security units were called to quell the unrest, while riot police fired tear gas and deployed water cannons to disperse crowds.
In the aftermath, police arrested more than 1,200 individuals across the country. Paramedics treated dozens of injured protestors, and damage estimates for property and commerce are still being compiled.
President Emmanuel Macron condemned the violence in a social‑media post, promising that vandals and looters would be prosecuted and punished. He urged calm while encouraging a constructive dialogue on the economic reforms demanded by the masses.
BBC journalist Adina Campbell reports from Paris, providing continuous updates on the unfolding situation.
