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Paris police: 855 arrested in capital region after protest clashes, looting
Paris police said Sunday that 855 people were arrested in the capital region after Saturday's protest march turned into clashes and looting; the march drew about 110,000 people.
Why it matters
This is the latest round of France's nationwide protest wave: authorities put turnout at about 550,000 across the country, organisers at about 800,000. The 855 arrests in the Paris region underline how a peaceful march gave way to arson and looting after dark. Around Place de la République, shopfronts were smashed and streets were strewn with broken glass and cobblestones.
Full report
Paris police said in a statement Sunday that 855 people were arrested in the capital region. The march drew about 110,000 people denouncing rising living costs and poor conditions in schools. Police said groups numbering from several hundred to more than 1,000 people formed unauthorized marches across central Paris on Saturday; masked protesters threw fireworks and other objects at officers, who responded with tear gas and water cannons.
Police said a new phase began by late afternoon, with large numbers of people whose sole aim was to steal and loot taking advantage of the unrest. Looting and damage were reported around Place de la République and in tourist and shopping areas in the city centre; a car and a newspaper kiosk were set alight. One protester died of a heart attack after a medical emergency in the street. Thirteen police and gendarmerie officers and two firefighters were injured.
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu and Interior Minister Laurent Nunez attributed some of the violence to "radical far-left groups" and said others later joined to loot. "Peaceful demonstrations have every place in our Republic. Arson, looting and attacks do not," Lecornu said in a message posted on X. Authorities said about 550,000 people took part in protests across France, while organisers counted about 800,000.
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