Burnt-out cars and shattered glass on Paris streets after protests turn into riots and looting
About 550,000 people joined mostly peaceful protests across France on Saturday over fuel prices and the cost of living, but riots broke out in several cities. Police arrested about 1,800 people and 150 officers were injured.
France woke up on Sunday to widespread damage after a day of riots and demonstrations: shopfronts in Paris were smashed, cars and bicycles burnt out, and pavements covered in glass and debris. On Saturday some 550,000 people took to the streets to protest against rising fuel prices, the cost of living and worsening public services, including schools. Most of the protests were peaceful, but police arrested about 1,800 people.
Riots in several cities
Groups of rioters, some dressed in black and wearing masks and balaclavas, appeared in Paris, Marseille and other towns and cities. Some set fire to cars and buildings. In Paris, protesters clashed with riot police, who used tear gas and water cannon on the crowds. At least one restaurant was gutted by fire. The BBC saw fighting break out among some groups, and riot police charged a crowd in central Paris, hitting several people with batons. Looting took place in Paris, Marseille, Lille and elsewhere.
In Marseille, protesters broke into the city hall using a metal fence as a battering ram. In Lille, police said a McDonald's was set on fire, and an Apple store was broken into and looted. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said 150 police officers were injured.
Damage and casualties
On Sunday morning, Parisians surveyed the damage, including smashed windows at Ralph Lauren, Gucci and Versace stores. Shopkeepers swept up large shards of glass while rubbish trucks cleared debris. Many shops were daubed with graffiti reading "tax the rich" and "eat the rich".
The owner of a clothes shop near the Place de la République told the BBC that CCTV showed looters inside for just over an hour and a half, and that he saw no police during that time. He did not believe the looters were genuine protesters and said they were exploiting the demonstrations.
In Lyon, the tourist office was burnt; Mayor Grégory Doucet called it "a tragedy". A fire at Limoges town hall caused part of the building to collapse, and local officials said it was "largely lost". In Saint-Étienne, a young man had his hand blown off by a small explosive.
