France plunged into chaos and violence during protests. What happened?

Paris and other french cities have darkened in chaos and violence after thousands have gone to the streets in the context of the national day of protest against the increase in cost of living and in support of the demands of secondary school students.

Saturday was marked by a strong mobilization against rising cost of living with hundreds of thousands on the streets. However, the day was also marked by numerous incidents in Paris and other French locations, including vandalized and looted shops. 

According to the French newspapers, which cite police sources, only 855 protesters were arrested in Paris according to the latest report. 

It should be noted that the French Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, had advanced on Saturday that security forces had detained more than 1,200 people during episodes of violence outside the demonstrations in several cities of France. In addition to arrests, 150 police and gendarmes were injured. 

Several wounded and one dead

There at least five wounded who are in critical condition and 48 in relative urgency in Paris and other French cities. 

In other cities of France, at least 10 wounded were recorded in Lyon, 12 in Lille, five in Dijon and 15 in Rennes. According to BFMTV, all are in relative urgency, without immediate risk of life.

There was also the case of a protester who had his hand amputated in Saint-Étienne, in the centre of France, following the launch of a grenade by police forces.

It should be noted that this is the second case of this kind after in early October a 15-year-old teenager lost his hand due to a stun grenade fired by the police in Lens.

According to BFMTV, there is also a record of a fatal victim. Death is mentioned in a report by the Parisian authorities and, as we know, it is a protester who fainted on Mangenta Boulevard. Despite the assistance provided, the person died before arriving at the hospital. The exact circumstances of fainting are being investigated. 

Damage to buildings and fires

In Paris, there were also clashes between police and groups of demonstrators. Police resorted to tear gas to disperse hundreds of hooded and masked protesters throwing petards and other objects against security forces in Republic Square, while shouting “Macron, resignation”. A strong contingent of the intervention corps was deployed to the site.

Throughout France, thousands of people responded to calls on social networks to reactivate the “yellow vests” movement, which emerged in 2018 against social injustice.

The Interior Minister's office noted acts of violence committed by hooded individuals in Paris, Marseille, Rennes, Toulouse and Angers, including attempts to pillage, assault on police officers, urban furniture fires and attacks on government facilities and media.

In the port city of Marseille, in the south of the country, some commercial establishments and a police station suffered damage, and protesters invaded for a moment the lobby of the City Hall.

On Friday, President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged “the constitutional right to protest and to express”, but made an appeal to calm.

“ This right requires respect. Respect for people, respect for the heritage and therefore the commitment not to insult or destroy ", said.

The police forbade other concentrations planned for the center of Paris and determined the closure of metro stations today, including those located around the Champs Elysées and nearby the Elisha Palace, parliament and government buildings.

In recent weeks, France has recorded thousands of arrests, hundreds of wounded and burned schools, at a start of a school year marked by national student protests that are conditioning the campaign for the in-person elections and attracting international attention.