France Protests
People look at a charred car on Place de la Republique the day after a demonstration against rising living costs, joining students' grievances, in Paris, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026.
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Police have arrested at least 1,800 people across France after violent clashes during nationwide protests. Demonstrators denounced rising living costs and poor school conditions. Authorities said masked groups set fires and attacked public buildings in several cities. In Limoges, flames engulfed the 19th-century City Hall, causing its roof to collapse. The region's prefect said the fire was deliberately set but is now under control. French President Emmanuel Macron held an emergency meeting with top officials. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez attributed the violence to “radical far-left groups” and looters. More than 500 police officers, gendarmes, and firefighters were injured.
