French Protests Over Living Costs and Schools Turn Violent as Unions Claim 800,000 Marchers
Nationwide demonstrations against the rising cost of living and school conditions are under way in France on Saturday, 17 October. They have turned violent, and one protester's hand was blown off by a police grenade.
Nationwide demonstrations against the higher cost of living and conditions in schools are taking place across France on Saturday, 17 October 2026. The protests have turned violent in places, and one demonstrator's hand was blown off by a police crowd-control grenade.
According to the CGT, France's biggest trade union, about 800,000 people are taking part in the protests. The figure comes from the organisers, and the source does not give an independent or official count.
Unrest in Nantes
A photograph from the news agency AFP shows a protester throwing a shopping trolley during a demonstration in Nantes, in western France. The image illustrates the chaotic scenes seen at the protests on Saturday.
France 24 is covering events in a live blog, drawing on reporting from AFP, AP and Reuters. The story is still developing, and the source gives no further details yet on other injuries, arrests or the police response.
