France holds crisis talks after violent unrest and mass arrests

France's government was in crisis talks on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, after days of violent unrest in cities across the country. More than 2,000 people were arrested during the unrest, including 855 in Paris, which Paris police described as a record number. The Guardian

One demonstrator died and hundreds of police officers were injured during the violence. Reuters

Violent fringe groups targeted public buildings during the unrest. In Limoges in central France, the 19th-century town hall was burned down.

Tens of thousands of people attended calm marches in major cities, including Paris, supporting schoolchildren's demands for more teachers and repairs to schools. Around 550,000 people took part in protests across France on Saturday. Xinhua

Politicians on the left and right called for the resignation of Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez after the violence. President Emmanuel Macron was preparing to address the nation on the night of Oct. 18.

Macron wrote on social media that there was "no place for violence" in France. U.S. President Donald Trump said "France is burning" in reaction to the unrest. The Independent