The riots continue in the streets of Paris and other cities: a thousand injured agents and 2,400 arrested in all of France

Protests in France and riots, live | Riots continue in the streets of Paris and other cities: a thousand injured officers and 2,400 arrested Tension has returned this Sunday to Paris and other French cities such as Toulouse, Lyon, Rennes or Lille following a series of demonstrations called by social media, where there have been new police crackdowns. These clashes take place one day after the massive protests called throughout France over the high cost of living, which led to the most violent riots in recent years in the country. According to the provisional report from the authorities, there has been one death and 2,397 arrests, while 997 police officers, gendarmes, and firefighters have been injured in the course of the clashes, attacks on public buildings, and looting of businesses. Furthermore, a young person lost their hand when a police grenade exploded on them in Saint Étienne, while a 17-year-old girl lost her left eye in Mulhouse after being injured during these protests, an event that the French National Police is already investigating. The most striking image of these violent episodes has been the fire at the Limoges city hall, in the center of the country, which was completely destroyed on Saturday after some masked individuals gained access to the building and set it on fire with workers inside. The flames were scorching the building, dating from the 19th century and declared a historical monument, and the roof along with its bell tower collapsed after several hours. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, condemned these acts of "unprecedented violence" in a message to the nation this Sunday, blaming "extremists from the far-left". "Tonight we all feel anger and shame," Macron stated, before promising a "firm hand" and ordering regional prefects—the equivalent in Spain to the Government delegates—to ban "certain gatherings" when necessary. "The prefects will make decisions jointly with the mayors to protect our cities, our public buildings, and our businesses," he detailed. Macron "has understood nothing of what is happening in the country" The general secretary of the CGT, Sophie Binet, reacted this Sunday to the speech by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, saying that he "has understood nothing of what is happening in the country," considering that his message did not address the expectations expressed by the protesters on Saturday. According to Binet, she told the AFP agency, "the problem with tonight's speech is that it makes no concrete announcement to respond to the mobilization of young people, the rising cost of living, the deterioration of public services, and the increase in layoffs." Students participate in Paris protest against the rising cost of living and cuts in public services, this October 17, before it led to violent clashes.EFE Protesters hold a French flag while participating in a protest against the rising cost of living and cuts in public services in the Place de la République, in Paris, France.EFE 18/10/2026 50 arrested in the last two hours in Paris The violent clashes and looting have continued in Paris, where the Police Prefecture has reported that there have been 50 arrests in the last two hours, bringing the "total to 92" arrests in the capital for the entire day. 18/10/2026 Looting continues in Paris At this time, scenes of vandalism and looting are unfolding in different parts of the French capital, such as the Châtelet area, according to the newspaper Le Parisien. A liquor store on the Rambuteau street was one of the establishments affected, along with an optical shop and a supermarket. Images of vandalism in Paris this Sunday, one day after the violent riots.Emma Da Silva / AP 18/10/2026 Paris merchants remain vigilant David Belliard, mayor of district XI of Paris, has called on the merchants and residents of the neighborhood to be alert to the acts of vandalism and violence that are still occurring this Sunday. "Do not take risks or expose yourselves to danger. Protect yourselves," he warned. 18/10/2026 Controversial video of a police officer spraying with gas on a councilor The mayor of Saint-Denis, Bally Bagayoko (La Francia Insumisa), has condemned the use of tear gas by a police officer on his deputy mayor, Landy Ngang, during Saturday's riots, images that have gone viral on social media. "These images raise serious questions and demand clear explanations about the circumstances of this intervention," he demanded. For this reason, he has asked the police commissioner, the prefect, and the Minister of the Interior "to provide precise answers and open an independent and impartial investigation to shed all light on these events and establish responsibilities." 18/10/2026 The far-right calls Macron "lamentable" The president of the French far-right party, the National Rally (RN), Jordan Bardella, rejected this Sunday the "lamentable" message to the nation from the French president, Emmanuel Macron, for his "cowardly and disoriented" response to Saturday's serious riots within the context of the large-scale social protests. "Lamentable address by Emmanuel Macron. This cowardly and disoriented power has nothing to say to the French, nothing to propose to them," Bardella stated in a message published on social media. "It does not even have the strength to protect them," he stated in reference to what he considers Macron's weakness after the attacks on city halls and the looting of businesses. 18/10/2026 Macron asks for debates with parties and not in the streets Six months after the presidential elections, Macron has also claimed that his country "deserves good presidential elections," so he has urged the French to prioritize democratic debate. "All those who tell them today that the urgent thing is to go into the streets, protest, and create disorder have a single goal: to harm the Republic and hijack the debate," he assured. Therefore, he has defended the holding of debates in public events, media, and peaceful gatherings, but "with respect," he said, among calls for "unity" and "calmness". This is why the French president has expressed his desire for "debates with the parties and not in the streets, through violence". 18/10/2026 Meetings with the education sector On the other hand, Macron has also announced that, starting this week, the French government will work with secondary and university students, teachers, unions, employers' organizations, and elected officials to develop responses to young people's concerns. "We cannot ask our youth to believe in the future without giving them the opportunity to build the answers and sit at the table," he defended. The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, is heading an interministerial crisis meeting at the Élysée Palace this Sunday.Ludovic Marin/ AP 18/10/2026 Call to political parties Furthermore, Emmanuel Macron has urged political parties and unions to condemn "without ambiguity" the violent acts recorded during the protests and stated that France "needs order" and not an escalation of tensions. "I call on all political parties to unequivocally condemn all forms of violence. The country needs order, not escalation," he said. 18/10/2026 Macron recognizes the legitimacy of the protests Macron has recognized the protesters' concerns about the cost of living and the increase in fuel prices, and attributed these increases to the consequences of the war in the Middle East. In this regard, he announced that starting this Monday he will resume his international agenda by traveling to the Gulf countries to ensure the supply of fuel and gas in France. In the same way, the French president said he understood the "deep anguish" that young people have been expressing on the streets for several weeks, both in institutes and universities. "We must listen to them without prejudice and without downplaying the difficulties," he stated. Therefore, he said that his government has already begun to work on this issue. "Our responsibility is twofold: to listen to the dissatisfaction and address its causes, and to firmly uphold the republican order." 18/10/2026 Macron blames the far-left for the chaos In his intervention, the French president blamed the "extremists from the far-left" for the violence unleashed throughout the country on Saturday, but asked to distinguish between the perpetrators of the protesters' destruction and their legitimate demands. "We must never confuse these latter with those who have destroyed, broken, and looted," Macron clarified. Macron, during his speech this October 18 regarding the serious riots in France.RTVE 18/10/2026 Support for police and merchants Furthermore, Macron has expressed his support for the police, "mayors and authorities," and also for the "merchants and artisans" affected by the violent events. For the Gallic president, law enforcement "held and did the best they could," while he wanted to send a message of reassurance to the merchants: "They will not be alone to face these difficulties." For this reason, he announced that the prime minister will preside from this Monday a crisis unit to mobilize "the fastest possible help" and support the people affected by the violence. 18/10/2026 Ban on gatherings In his speech, Macron also announced that from now on, the prefects and mayors of the French cities will be able to "prohibit" certain gatherings. "The prefects will make decisions in coordination with the mayors to protect our cities, our public buildings, and our businesses," he said. Among these measures, they could reach "prohibiting certain gatherings" and undertaking "any necessary action". 18/10/2026 Macron addresses the nation in a speech The French president, Emmanuel Macron, addressed the nation in a speech in which he condemned the violent acts of Saturday, for which he says he feels "anger" and "shame," and promised judicial consequences for the infractions committed during the acts of vandalism seen throughout the country. "Those who destroyed must pay. Those who looted must restore. Those who have tried to overthrow the Republic will have to answer for it," he claimed. Therefore, he indicated, "investigations will be carried out with all the necessary diligence and firmness." The French president, Emmanuel Macron, addresses the nation in a speech.RTVE 18/10/2026 New balance of Saturday's riots A new balance released by the French Ministry of the Interior raised the arrests across France to 2,397 as a result of Saturday's violent riots, while 997 police officers and gendarmes were injured, seven of them seriously. A car is on fire in the Place de la République while clashes break out between protesters and the police during a protest against the rising cost of living and cuts in public services in Paris, France.EFE / EPA / YOAN VALAT 18/10/2026 Mélenchon asks Macron to respond to young people The candidate of La Francia Insumisa, Jean-Luc Mélenchon accused the French Executive, and specifically the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, of using "the strategy of wear and tear," following the violent acts recorded outside the mobilizations, and asked him to respond to young people. "All this violence was necessary for us to hear Emmanuel Macron," he said about the address to the nation to be made from 8:00 p.m. For this reason, he urged him to address the protesters' demands, mentioning measures such as "price freezes" or an investment of "10,000 billion" in education. Furthermore, the presidential candidate warned that if the head of state's intervention tonight leads to "a new phase of wear and tear, we will face situations that will become uncontrollable." 18/10/2026 Destruction and millionaire losses in businesses The violent clashes in France on Saturday also led to the looting of "several hundred businesses," the Minister of the Interior, Laurent Núñez, indicated this Sunday. One day after the riots, establishments in Paris and other cities were completely vandalized, with broken glass and shelves plundered by the violent ones. The Federation of Commerce and Distribution estimated that the damage resulting from the looting of about 1,500 establishments across France could amount to hundreds of millions of euros. A man passes this Sunday next to a store looted on Saturday during the riots caused by the cost of living demonstrations in Paris.Emma Da Silva / AP Image of the state in which a store was left after the violent protests on Saturday in Paris.Emma Da Silva / AP Aspect of what a bank branch in Paris looked like this Sunday, completely destroyed by the violent acts of Saturday.EFE 18/10/2026 The far-right demands that Macron apologize and leave Jordan Bardella, president of the French far-right party National Rally (RN), demanded this Sunday from the head of state, Emmanuel Macron, to apologize and to resign, considering that he does not know how to adequately respond to the country's situation in the context of the protests. Bardella, who made a visit to a Paris police station to show his support for law enforcement after Saturday's mass social protests, which degenerated into violence in many cities, denounced to the media that "the police deployment was underdimensioned." "The absolute political priority must be to restore order. Order no longer exists in France," he pointed out. 18/10/2026 Demonstrations against city halls The Association of Mayors of France (AAF) has called for this Monday a series of demonstrations in front of all municipal seats of the country to express their rejection of acts of violence, looting, and the burning of public buildings. "These serious attacks on democratic institutions constitute a real risk to the entire nation," they warned. Thus, they have called for "the mayors and municipal councils to unite, along with all actors who wish to do so," this Monday at noon. 18/10/2026 Tear gas and charges in Paris Tensions began this afternoon after an unauthorized gathering was formed in the Place de la République in Paris. In response to the initial incidents, security forces acted to disperse the participants and make arrests. The gathering was dispersed with tear gas, but several groups then dispersed through the nearby streets, where tension increased. A pile of rental bicycles was set on fire at the Valmy wharf, which forced firefighters to intervene. The officers deployed to secure the area were met with shouts of ACAB, an acronym for a slogan against the police. 18/10/2026 Deployment of the police unit against urban unrest As happened on Saturday in Paris, the Police has once again deployed this afternoon in the capital the CRS 8, a unit specialized in intervening against urban unrest, to face the new violent unrest occurring in the city. French riot police officers, deployed in the streets of Paris on Saturday after violent clashes.EFE 18/10/2026 A young woman loses an eye in Mulhouse According to the French newspaper Le Parisien, citing the Prosecutor's Office, a young woman lost an eye in the city of Mulhouse (northeast of the country, near the border with Germany and Switzerland), in the context of the social protests called this weekend. The French National Police (IGPN) is already investigating the case after the Prosecutor's Office of Mulhouse ordered the opening of "an investigation for flagrancy regarding acts of aggravated violence." The initial information suggests that the victim is 17 years old and from Mulhouse. "Unfortunately, despite emergency surgery, the loss of her left eye is permanent," the prosecutor of the city, Nicolas Heitz, stated in a statement. 18/10/2026 Macron appears at 8 p.m. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, will address the nation in a speech from the Élysée Palace at 8:00 p.m. The message will take place after the prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, presides over a crisis cell dedicated to the consequences of this wave of violence across the country. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, at a press conference.Sophie Hugon / EUROPA PRESS 18/10/2026 New tensions and clashes in France One day after the violent riots in France that caused one death, 2,000 arrests, and 200 injured police officers and gendarmes, tension has returned to the streets of the country. Demonstrations called by social media in Paris, Toulouse, Lyon, Rennes or Lille have once again led to police crackdowns and clashes. In the French capital, the Paris Police Prefecture has indicated that the officers proceeded to conduct checks following "a call for an undeclared demonstration." In addition to the checks, law enforcement has launched a device "to intervene quickly if necessary" and has intervened with tear gas to "disperse and arrest," as shown by various French television channels. Firefighters extinguish the fire in a barricade next to a riot police team in Paris this Sunday.Getty Images Comments