France reports at least 1,800 arrests after nationwide protest unrest

France reported at least 1,800 arrests following Saturday's nationwide protests against living costs and education policies, according to TheJournal.ie and The Irish News. Those outlets cited Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu. His later figure exceeds an earlier official count of about 1,200 detained, while the number of police officers and gendarmes reported injured remained at 150.

The interior ministry estimated that approximately 550,000 people took part in demonstrations across the country. Organisers, including trade union groups, put turnout closer to 800,000. The different attendance estimates concerned the same day of protest, not separate events. The marches brought together students and other groups frustrated with school conditions, wages and household costs.

In Paris, police used tear gas and water cannon after some groups threw objects and tried to reach official buildings. Newspapers described burned vehicles, damaged shops and looting around parts of the city centre. Many people took part in peaceful marches, while police confronted groups involved in violence later in the day, according to international reports on the demonstrations.

In Limoges, a fire severely damaged the historic town hall, and sections of the roof and tower collapsed. French outlets reported that firefighters worked to contain the blaze as local officials assessed the loss of the building. Separate incidents affected Lyon, where a tourism office burned and shops were looted, and Marseille, where public buildings and businesses were attacked.

The violence also spread to other towns, with police responding to property damage and disturbances. Some reports recorded 855 arrests in the greater Paris area, which should be treated as part of the national count rather than added to it. The government launched a response that included collecting evidence of vandalism and identifying suspects in separate municipalities.

President Emmanuel Macron condemned attacks on public institutions and businesses and said that those responsible would be prosecuted. Lecornu criticised the extent of the violence and praised police who dealt with the incidents, according to TheJournal.ie. The mayors of several affected cities sought discussions with the national government about what had happened and the recovery work required.

The published totals describe successive stages of an official count: about 400 arrests was an early report, 1,200 a later account, and at least 1,800 was reported the following morning. They should never be summed. Reports about deaths or civilian injuries in specific cities were not consistent enough to support a definitive combined nationwide civilian casualty figure.