France Counts Cost of Violent Protests: 1,800 Arrested as Cities Scarred by Looting

French authorities recorded 1,800 arrests and over 500 injured security personnel following nationwide protests against rising living costs and poor school conditions on Saturday. Paris police reported 855 arrests in the capital region alone.

Damage was severe across multiple cities. Rioters torched the 143-year-old town hall in Limoges, causing its roof to collapse, and looted shops in Paris, Marseille, and Lyon. Dislodged cobblestones and broken glass littered the Place de la République, where the central Marianne monument was partially dismantled.

Politicians blamed each other for the chaos. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen attacked far-left rival Jean-Luc Mélenchon over the looting, while the far-left politician accused Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu of "playing with fire" over government policies. A separate death was reported; Paris police confirmed one person died of a heart attack, and the case is under investigation.

French President Emmanuel Macron was scheduled to hold an emergency meeting with senior officials on Sunday before addressing the nation at 8 p.m. Mayor of Paris Emmanuel Grégoire described the damage as "unprecedented" in down-town Paris. He stated, "entire streets have been methodically destroyed," and highlighted the need to support affected businesses and restore public order in the capital.