A historic town hall in Limoges was largely destroyed by a massive fire on Saturday as protests over rising living costs spread across France, with clashes between demonstrators and police, looting and damage to public buildings reported in several cities.
The building, which had stood through two world wars, was engulfed in flames amid the unrest. The region's top official told news agency AFP that the town hall was "largely lost", describing the damage as a "catastrophe for heritage" and condemning the incident as a "deliberate act by hooligans".
Witnesses said masked protesters first set a police car on fire outside the building, then smashed windows and entered the town hall before starting the blaze. Firefighters were deployed late on Saturday to bring the fire under control.
As hundreds of people watched the historic building burn, a municipal employee was seen crying while a local councillor comforted them.
Historic landmark built in the 19th century destroyed
The Limoges Town Hall was built in 1873 and inaugurated in 1883. Its destruction marked a major loss for the city's architectural heritage, with the building having survived both world wars before being engulfed in the fire during Saturday's unrest.
The damage came amid a wider wave of demonstrations in Paris and other French cities. Police used tear gas and water cannon against masked protesters, some of whom reportedly threw objects and fired fireworks towards officers.
In Paris, several parked cars were set ablaze and smoke rose over the city centre. Protesters also tried to march up the Champs-Elysees, home to flagship luxury stores. Police fired tear gas to prevent more than 300 demonstrators from advancing, AFP reported.
Paris mayor Emmanuel Gregoire said "entire streets have been devastated" in the capital.
Fires, looting and attacks reported across French cities
The unrest extended beyond Paris and Limoges. Protesters set fire to a tourist office in central Lyon, while town halls in Marseille and Lille were reportedly broken into and damaged. A police compound in Bordeaux was also targeted.
Dozens of shops were looted in Paris, Marseille, Nice, Bordeaux and Lille. An Apple store in Lille was stripped bare.
Police faced masked demonstrators in several locations, including Rennes, Toulouse and Angers. France's Interior Ministry said hooded, ultra-left-wing agitators had gathered in these cities and in Paris, setting fire to street furniture, damaging public buildings and looting shops in places such as Lyon, Montpellier and Valence.
The ministry reported that 272 people had been arrested nationwide by 3 pm, according to Bloomberg. The BBC reported that the number of arrests had reached at least 1,200, while figures from the interior ministry and the CGT union differed on the scale of the demonstrations.
Hundreds of thousands join demonstrations
France's Interior Ministry estimated that around 550,000 people participated in Saturday's protests. The CGT union put the turnout at 800,000, AFP reported.
The demonstrations brought together several groups, including activists associated with the Yellow Vests movement, which emerged in 2018 in opposition to rising living costs and a proposed fuel tax increase under President Emmanuel Macron. The movement argued that the tax would disproportionately affect rural and working-class people who depend on cars.
Although the Yellow Vests protests gradually lost momentum, the movement has continued to stage demonstrations. Saturday's mobilisation was initially suggested by a TikTok user without a clear political agenda, according to Bloomberg. Yellow Vests activists subsequently seized the opportunity to revive their campaign.
Some unions, including the CGT, also planned to participate, focusing on public spending and the cost of living. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez told France 2 television on Friday that the government expected a "pretty big mobilisation". He said police were preparing for possible violence by extremist elements in major cities.
Macron and Lecornu condemn violence
President Emmanuel Macron condemned the destruction and warned that those responsible would face prosecution.
"Those who carried out vandalism, attacked administrative offices or businesses, or carried out looting, even in our town halls, will be prosecuted and punished," Macron said in a post on X late Saturday.
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu criticised what he described as "violence of extreme intensity" during the day's events.
US Vice President JD Vance also commented on the unrest, blaming Western liberals for mass immigration and arguing that governments had failed to address questions of assimilation and compatibility.
"Western liberals imported the third world into France and other countries in the name of diversity and compassion. They ignored fundamental questions of assimilation and compatibility. They were told it would lead to this and they didn't listen," Vance wrote on X.
"I pray that France, a beautiful country of amazing people, will stop this madness before more of its landmarks burn. And I hope Americans are paying attention. This is the future congressional Democrats seek for your country," he added.
Student unrest adds to pressure on government
The demonstrations come amid a broader period of political and social pressure in France. High school students have reportedly been protesting for more than three weeks over classroom conditions, teacher absences and university admissions.
A Cluster 17 poll published on October 11 found that around 57% of French people supported the students' protests. The government has promised to consider their concerns but faces constraints on significantly increasing the education budget.
The unrest comes as France prepares for elections in six months to replace Macron, adding to pressure on the country's political leadership over living costs, public spending and social discontent.