French Cities Count Cost After Mass Protests Turn Violent

UPDATE - follow-up to Burnt out cars and shattered glass on Paris streets after protests turn to riots and looting: France is cleaning up widespread damage after nationwide demonstrations over fuel prices, the cost of living and public services turned into riots, with about 1,800 people arrested.

What Happened

About 550,000 people took part in the demonstrations on Saturday, which started peacefully before groups of masked rioters set fire to cars and buildings. Looting hit cities including Paris, Marseille and Lille, where an Apple store was broken into and a McDonald's was set on fire. Protesters in Marseille used a metal fence to break into the city hall, while the tourist office in Lyon and the town hall in Limoges were badly damaged by fires.

Casualties And Damage

France's interior ministry said more than 500 police officers, gendarmes and firefighters were injured in the unrest. The Retail and Trade Federation reported that more than 1,500 shops and retailers were damaged, including designer stores like Ralph Lauren, Gucci and Versace with smashed glass fronts and graffiti reading "tax the rich." In Saint-Étienne, a young man had his hand blown off by a small explosive, according to Mayor Régis Juanico.

Official Reactions

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said protesting is a fundamental right, but blamed several thousand far-left individuals and delinquents for committing outrages and looting businesses. Lyon Mayor Grégory Doucet called the burning of the city's historic tourist office a tragedy, while Haute-Vienne prefect Maurice Barate said a wild horde deliberately torched the 143-year-old Limoges town hall.

Context

Large-scale street protests often highlight deep public anger over economic pressures and government policies in European nations. When demonstrations grow very large, separate groups can sometimes use the crowds to cause destruction and loot businesses independently of the main protesters' goals.