At least 1,800 people have been arrested.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday (October 18, 2026) voiced the public’s “anger” and “shame” over rioting and looting during nationwide protests against rising living costs and poor conditions in schools.
“Those who looted will have to pay back for the damage, and those who sought to bring down the Republic will be held accountable,” Mr. Macron said in a televised address to the nation.
Mr. “The right to protest is a fundamental right. Deliberately and collectively sowing disorder through violence is not,” Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez wrote on X, citing the looting of hundreds of businesses in cities including Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Bordeaux. His remarks came after nationwide protests against the rising cost of living and deteriorating public services descended into some of France’s worst unrest in recent years, leaving two people dead and hundreds injured. Masked groups set fire to buildings, attacked public infrastructure and looted businesses in several cities, including Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Limoges.
About 5,50,000 people took part in protests across France, according to authorities, while organisers put the figure at about 8,00,000. Paris police said 855 people were arrested in the capital region. The city’s prosecutor’s office said 557 remained in police custody. Earlier reporting noted: ‘Those who destroyed must pay’: Macron’s warning to France rioters; 2,400 arrested Despite his condemnation of the violence, Macron insisted that the government must acknowledge the concerns driving the demonstrations. More than 600 police officers were reportedly injured, while a police officer and a protester died in separate incidents linked to the unrest.
He said he had instructed prefects to work with Mayors to protect public buildings and businesses in the coming weeks, including by banning protests when necessary. Demonstrators answered calls from a labour union, student organisations and activists hoping to revive the “yellow vest” movement, which emerged in 2018 to protest social injustice. One person died of a heart attack, Paris police said in a statement, without providing details. The Paris prosecutor’s office said it was investigating. “I am actually stunned by the level of destruction and violence that was expressed,” said government employee Marie Peyreigne, 57, wondering what had led to the mayhem. Earlier reporting noted: Addressing the nation on Sunday evening, Macron said the violence had left the country feeling both “anger and shame”, as authorities reported around 2,400 arrests following clashes between protesters and police.
Macron has earlier held an emergency meeting with senior government officials, a day after masked groups set fires and attacked public buildings, including city halls, in several cities. Earlier reporting noted: French President Emmanuel Macron has vowed strict action against those involved in rioting and looting across the country, declaring that anyone who sought to undermine the Republic would be held accountable.
