Germany said on Monday (October 19, 2026) that violence has “no place” on the streets, and urged its citizens in France to exercise caution, after town halls and shops were looted and set ablaze in weekend protests.
Unions, school students and activists of the Yellow Vest movement, which rattled the first term of French President Emmanuel Macron, joined forces in a show of anger. The Ministry updated its travel and security advice for France late on Sunday (October 18, 2026), warning that “further demonstrations and, in some cases, further outbreaks of violence in the coming days cannot be ruled out. More than 2,500 people were arrested after demonstrations on Saturday (October 17, 2026), which saw about half a million people turn out across France to protest against the cost of living.
“Exercise caution and avoid demonstrations wherever possible,” it added. Some demonstrations turned violent, and the city of Limoges lost its 19th-century town hall to a fire that the local prefect, Maurice Barate, told the news channel LCI had been started by “a wild horde.”
