Clashes broke out in Paris, Marseille, and several other French cities on Saturday after tens of thousands of people marched in a third wave of protests addressing the cost of living and declining public services. While interior minister Laurent Nuñez reported that about 150 planned demonstrations nationwide had remained peaceful, law enforcement faced an extraordinary level of violence from rioters as the events concluded.
Violence Erupts as Demonstrations End
Nuñez stated that a riot police officer in Paris was struck by a molotov cocktail, an incident he characterized as attempted murder, and noted that authorities were fully prepared for individuals seeking confrontation. Approximately 320,000 people participated in the rallies across the country, decreasing from an estimated 410,000 the previous weekend, with 70,000 marching along boulevards on the south-eastern outskirts of Paris.
As evening approached, police in multiple cities deployed teargas and stun grenades to disperse crowds that included groups of masked rioters. The interior ministry confirmed late Saturday that 565 people had been arrested nationwide, while four police officers and one gendarme sustained injuries in Paris. Ahead of the events, Nuñez had noted that 70,000 police and gendarmes, including elite units, were deployed to manage potential violence on a day classified as high risk.
The Paris march started peacefully near the ring road with participants carrying signs addressing living costs and government policies. Near the destination at Porte de Charenton, dozens of masked individuals dressed in black used hammers to pry up paving stones and throw them at security forces, alongside at least one incendiary device. Police responded with teargas and baton charges, while the Paris police prefecture reported that a hardcore of several hundred rioters attacked officers.
Similar unrest occurred in other locations, including Lyon where protesters threw projectiles prompting teargas deployment, and Toulouse where police utilized water cannon against an unauthorized gathering of mostly young demonstrators. The coalitions included school students advocating for better conditions, trade unions, and yellow vest protesters expressing anger over widening inequalities and the government of Emmanuel Macron.
Protester Jérôme Rodrigues stated that the French economy was performing poorly under current leadership while families struggled financially. Another demonstrator in Nantes, Camille Guérin, voiced opposition to the cost of living and the far right while supporting student demands and citizen voices. These demonstrations followed widespread street violence that occurred two weeks prior on October 17.
Student representatives announced plans for additional high school and university blockades on Tuesday and Thursday, followed by participation in a November 5 demonstration organized by workers and trade unions, as stated by Sabrine Kharbach of the Union Étudiante.
Protests Expand Across Germany and Other European Nations
Demonstrations also unfolded in Germany, where police used water cannon and teargas to disperse crowds after youth-led marches organized by the group “Gen Z regelt!” concluded. Thousands of officers were deployed across German cities as tensions escalated during evening hours following rallies centered on education, health, the climate, and affordable living.
In Frankfurt, a Reuters witness reported that at least two stores were looted and several others damaged as protests turned violent, while a march was temporarily halted after participants set off fireworks. Police deployed water cannon in Cologne following reports of protesters targeting officers with fireworks, and Bild reported that demonstrators hurled bottles and eggs in Berlin, ignited barricades in Hamburg, and faced pepper spray in various locations.
Additional anti-government demonstrations took place in Tirana, Albania, where protesters renewed demands for the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama. The gathering began peacefully outside the education ministry before masked youths threw paving stones and firebombs at police and ignited rubbish bins. Authorities also maintained high alert levels in Barcelona following anonymous TikTok calls for gatherings, and in Italy following recent clashes in Milan, Turin, and Bologna.
