Mostly peaceful protests across France against the worsening cost of living crisis and growing inequality have descended into violence for a second consecutive weekend.
The French Interior Ministry said 410,000 people took part in protests in several major cities, including Paris.
After rioters burned Limoges’ historic city hall and looters destroyed supermarkets and luxury boutiques in Lyon last weekend, French authorities significantly beefed up security ahead of Saturday’s protests.
In Paris on Saturday, riot police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse a group of around 500 hooded youths who were throwing stones at police, a security official was quoted as saying by Reuters.
In France’s second city, Marseille, young people dragged large metal sheets to block a street, set trash cans on fire and threw stones and bottles at riot police. Clashes continued after sunset and police said looters attacked two jewelry stores, according to a Reuters report.
Clashes also broke out in Lyon, Bordeaux and Grenoble, while police fired volleys of tear gas at demonstrators in Clermont-Ferrand, Lille, Nantes and Nice, according to the agency.
However, the violence was even less intense than a week ago, when looters and vandals were rampaging through several French cities.
The protests began last month as a group of high school students in the Paris suburbs lamented poor school conditions, including a shortage of teachers and unsatisfactory facilities. Since then, the demonstrations have grown into nationwide protests.
France’s economic and political difficulties have sharply increased the cost of public borrowing. The yield on its 10-year bonds exceeded 5% this week for the first time since 2002, settling at around 5.03% on Friday.
Some investors fear that the country’s debt problems could spread to the rest of the euro zone.
Protesters and police officers clash during a demonstration against the rising cost of living in Rennes, France on October 24, 2026. (Photo by Vernault Quentin/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Nuphoto | Nuphoto | Getty Images
A protester wearing glasses and a keffiyeh over his face as tear gas spreads in the street during a demonstration against education funding and the rising cost of living in Paris, France, October 24, 2026. (Photo by Clément Souchet/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Nuphoto | Nuphoto | Getty Images
A group of police officers from a unit of the motorized anti-violence squad (BRAV-M) caught in a cloud of tear gas, tension and clashes between violent demonstrators and the police on the course of Vincennes towards the end of the march, act 2 of the demonstrations against the high cost of living, in favor of purchasing power, the protection of public services and fiscal and social justice, in Paris, France, October 24, 2026. (Photo by Amaury Cornu / Hans Lucas / AFP via Getty Images)
Amaury Cornu | Afp | Getty Images
Portrait of a father and his young son posing together at a demonstration, the boy holding a handwritten cardboard sign reading COLLEGIANS WE ARE HERE! (We are here too as middle school students!), in Paris, France, October 24, 2026. Initially led by high school students demanding better learning conditions, the movement also brought together younger students and their families, highlighting the involvement of different generations in the defense of education and the construction of their future. (Photo by Aruallan/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images)
Aruallan | Afp | Getty Images
In the crowd, a protester holds a sign reading In 2026, democracy has two tools, the stick and article 49.3, in Nantes, western France, October 24, 2026. A demonstration known as Act 2, organized by high school students, politicians, unions and yellow vests, in support of the right to demonstrate, against the high cost of living and for better conditions of education, work and daily life, under heavy police surveillance. (Photo by Maylis Rolland/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images)
Maylis Rolland | Afp | Getty Images
As the procession passes under the emergency room of the university hospital, a protester holds up a sign saying eat the rich, in Nantes, western France, October 24, 2026. A demonstration known as Act 2, organized by high school students, politicians, unions and yellow vests, in favor of the right to demonstrate against the high cost of living and for better conditions of education, work and daily life, under strong police surveillance. (Photo by Maylis Rolland/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images)
Maylis Rolland | Afp | Getty Images
A protester holds a sign reading “I dream of another world”, in Nantes, western France, October 24, 2026. A demonstration known as Act 2, organized by high school students, politicians, unions and yellow vests, in support of the right to demonstrate, against the high cost of living and for better conditions of education, work and daily life, under close police surveillance. (Photo by Maylis Rolland/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images)
Maylis Rolland | Afp | Getty Images
Three protesters wearing Spider-Man costumes or masks point at each other as other participants watch and record the scene during a demonstration for increased education funding and against the rising cost of living in Paris, France, October 24, 2026. (Photo by Clément Souchet/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Nuphoto | Nuphoto | Getty Images
Protesters hold large hand-painted banners during a march calling for increased funding for schools and universities and action against the rising cost of living in Paris, France, October 24, 2026. (Photo by Clément Souchet/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Nuphoto | Nuphoto | Getty Images
Police officers carrying batons and shields face protesters gathered on a sidewalk, many with their hands raised, during a demonstration for increased education funding and against the rising cost of living in Paris, France, October 24, 2026. (Photo by Clément Souchet/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Nuphoto | Nuphoto | Getty Images
Around 800,000 people demonstrated across France, including 250,000 in Paris, according to the CGT. The march in Paris left at 2 p.m. from the Porte d’Italie and headed towards the Porte de Vincennes after a change of route by the Police Prefecture at the last minute. October 24, 2026. (Photo by Telmo Pinto/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Nuphoto | Nuphoto | Getty Images
French riot police walk on a street amid clashes with protesters during an authorized demonstration organized by unions in Paris as part of nationwide protests called by the “Yellow Vests” movement joined by French high school and university students against the cost of living and rising fuel prices, France, October 24, 2026.
Dylan Martinez | Reuters
Gn world
