France Protests Turn Violent With Looting and 1,200 Arrests

At least 1,200 people were arrested in France on Saturday, Oct. 17, after demonstrations over conditions in schools and the cost of living broke into violence. The French government described the day as an "escalation in violence" BBC.

Shopfronts were smashed and stores were looted in several cities. Some shop owners reported stolen goods and damage amounting to €100,000 (£85,000).

Dozens of shops were looted in Paris and Marseille during the Oct. 17 protests Al Jazeera. Luxury boutiques in cities across France were looted during the demonstrations Reuters. Burned cars were left on streets afterward Al Jazeera.

The French protests coincided with cost-of-living demonstrations the same day in Belgium, Italy and Portugal. In Milan, demonstrators clashed with police at Piazza Duomo.

Tensions in French schools had been building since early October. About 400 schools were closed around Oct. 2 amid student protests, some of which turned violent. Riot police clashed with high school students, and unions called for teachers to strike amid the school protests.

Police fired teargas during school protests reported on Oct. 6. Clashes occurred in Rennes, Lyon and Strasbourg during the early-October school protests.

In Paris, police placed limits on gathering ahead of Saturday's demonstrations. The Paris Police Prefecture issued Order No. 2026-01342 partially banning a demonstration on Oct. 17. A separate order, No. 2026-01358, set prohibitions in perimeters in the capital on Saturday, Oct. 17 from 07:00 to 22:00. A march for Saturday, Oct. 17 had been declared by Fabrice Balossini on behalf of a collective claiming affiliation with the gilets jaunes. Organisers claimed 800,000 people had taken to the streets France 24.