PARIS, France- Violent clashes, fires and looting broke out in cities across France on Saturday as hundreds of thousands of people protested against the rising cost of living and poor conditions in schools.
Police used tear gas and water cannons in Paris to disperse masked demonstrators who threw fireworks, paving stones and other objects at officers near Place de la République.
Cars and rubbish bins were set alight, while shops were looted, according to the Associated Press.
Several people were injured.
The unrest also spread to other cities.
In Limoges, protesters set fire to the city hall, while masked demonstrators broke into Marseille’s city hall and defaced its walls.
Protesters set fire to Lyon’s tourist office, Reuters reported.
Violence and damage were also reported in Bordeaux, Lille, Calais, Brest, Rennes, Toulouse, Montpellier and Grenoble.
France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said about 400 people had been arrested nationwide after 110 marches drew an estimated 550,000 participants.
Organisers, including the CGT labour union and student groups, put the turnout at about 800,000.
Most demonstrations were peaceful, while violent incidents took place on the fringes of marches, news agencies reported.
President Emmanuel Macron condemned the violence and vowed those responsible would face prosecution.
“There is no place for violence in our Republic,” he said in a message on X, adding that those who vandalised property, attacked public offices and looted businesses “will be prosecuted and punished.”
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said the government would not be intimidated. He accused far-left groups and criminals of exploiting the protests, while demonstrators said they were marching over high living costs, fuel prices, inequality and strained public services.
“We are fighting because the cost of living is too harsh, because the price of fuel is too high, because high school pupils are being violently attacked and hurt all over the country just for trying to protest and ask for more teachers and decent learning conditions,” one protester, 19-year-old Lola, told Reuters.
The demonstrations brought together students, trade unionists, farmers, teachers, retirees and members of the Yellow Vest movement.
Protests began last month among high school students in Paris’ northern suburbs, with grievances over teacher shortages and school conditions broadening into anger over living standards and public spending.
The unrest comes months before France’s 2027 presidential election.
Police tactics have also faced scrutiny following injuries during earlier student protests.
Reuters reported that the police watchdog was investigating at least two dozen allegations of police violence.
