There have been violent clashes between protesters and police in French cities, during the latest day of demonstrations against education standards and the cost of living.
At least 400 people were arrested during what the French government described as an “escalation in violence”, as more than 500,000 people took to the streets.
In Paris riot police used tear gas and water cannon on crowds. Buildings were set alight in the capital and other areas, including in Limoges where a large fire broke out in the town hall.
There was looting in several cities, with widespread vandalism against city halls and businesses. In Lyon the city’s tourist office was burned. Police said “hostile individuals” prevented firefighters from tackling the blaze.
The interior ministry said the protests involved “targeted acts of violence” from “hooded individuals” in places, including parts of the capital and also Marseille, Rennes, Toulouse and Angers. Damage to buildings was reported across France, including in Grenoble, Avignon, Pau, Montpellier and Valence.
Hundreds of thousands of students have protested in recent weeks over staff shortages and dilapidated facilities in the country’s lycées – secondary schools attended by 15 to 18-year-olds. They were joined in the latest protests by trade union members and other protest groups. These included the so-called gilets jaunes ‘yellow vest’ movement, who demonstrated against cost-of-living hikes for over a year from 2018.
The protests come as Frances faces a period of deep political uncertainty. President Emmanuel Macron will leave office next year and polls suggest April’s presidential election could come down to a fight between the leader of the National Rally, Marine Le Pen, and Jean-Luc Mélenchon of the hard-left La France Insoumise party.
Jane Hill presents BBC News at Ten reporting by James Waterhouse and Katya Adler.
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