French President Emmanuel Macron will address the nation following violent clashes as demonstrations took place

Police arrested at least 1,800 people across France as around 550,000 took part in protests against rising living costs

Violent clashes, fires and looting on Saturday marred demonstrations in the country.

Authorities said groups of masked protesters targeted public buildings, including city halls and local government offices.

In Limoges, a city in central France, flames engulfed the 19th-century City Hall, causing its roof to collapse. Haute-Vienne prefect Maurice Barate told LCI television that the fire was deliberately set and nearly destroyed the building. The fire was under control on Sunday.

French President Emmanuel Macron is holding an emergency meeting with top government officials, according to his office.

Hundreds of protesters gathered again at the Place de la Republique in Paris on Sunday amid a heavy police presence. Officers used tear gas as tensions flared sporadically.

“The right to protest is a fundamental right. Deliberately and collectively sowing disorder through violence is not,” interior minister Laurent Nunez wrote on X, pointing to the lootings of hundreds of businesses in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Rennes, Strasbourg, Grenoble, Nice, Limoges and other cities.

Mr Nunez and Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu attributed some of the violence to “radical far-left groups” and said others later joined to loot.

Published: 18/10/2026 by Radio NewsHub