Police clash with protesters during huge demonstrations across France

FRANCE – More than 160 people have been detained across France during demonstrations up and down the country. Officers have deployed tear gas in several cities during clashes with protesters, and a tourist office has been set on fire. Tens of thousands of students, trade union activists and more are taking part in a march on Paris.
The body overseeing the Paris Police Force defended the actions of its officers and said it will “not back down in the face of rioters.” Anger among those on the streets has been fueled by tactics deployed by police in recent weeks. The government has struggled to contain the student protests, which started in support of striking teachers at a suburban high school, before snowballing into a national crisis and attracting global attention, including from President Donald Trump. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has taken to social media to condemn the violence at some of the protests across France today. “Peaceful demonstrations have a rightful place in our Republic. Arson, looting, and attacks do not,” he wrote in a post on X, accusing “far-left groups” of orchestrating “violence in several French cities.”
“At a time when some seek to cast aspersions on our law enforcement, I want to tell the French people that they can be proud of their police officers and gendarmes. They have faced violence of extreme intensity to protect our fellow citizens, and they deserve our full support,” he continued.
This comes after the leader of France’s far-left party Jean-Luc Mélenchon said that demonstrations were taking place peacefully, other than in areas where police were restricting protests. “To those who clearly intend for this violence to serve as a ‘warm-up’ ahead of the presidential election, I will say clearly: we will not be intimidated. No one will impose their political agenda through violence,” Lecornu said.
Lecornu highlighted a proposed bill, set to be read by the French Senate later this month, that would allow rioters to be held financially responsible for the damage they, or their fellow rioters, cause. “Public funds are scarce; they should be used to finance our public services, not to endlessly repair what rioters destroy. The cost must be borne by them,” he said. A protester in the city of Saint-Étienne, about 40 miles southwest of Lyon, lost his hand during a march there today, a police source told CNN affiliate BFMTV. There were no further details of how the incident occurred. This is the second reported instance of a demonstrator losing their hand in the student protests that have rocked France for the past several weeks. A student in the north-east city of Lens lost his hand after reportedly picking up a grenade earlier this month, prompting the temporary suspension of one type of stun grenade by police.
That ban – which still allowed police to use several different grenades – has now been rescinded. Demonstrators have broken into city halls of Marseille and Lille, according to CNN affiliate BFMTV. The leader of France’s far-right National Rally party, Marine Le Pen, said “rioters” have “poisoned” today’s escalating demonstrations.
As tens of thousands of people are taking to the streets of France, some reports of violence are emerging, with buildings set on fire and police deploying tear gas against protesters. Far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon, whose La France Insoumise party has backed the student movement, said most demonstrations were taking place peacefully.
“While news channels are flooded with images of violence in dozens of cities, everything is unfolding peacefully with tens of thousands of people calmly mobilized. Two worlds, two realities,” he posted on X. Authorities have acknowledged that “the vast majority of individuals are demonstrating peacefully,” CNN affiliate BFMTV reported. In Paris, the crowd was “moving calmly,” Mélenchon said, describing it as “young, energetic, and filled with handmade signs.”
Any violence or disorder in Paris has been “orchestrated by the prefect, who blocks access to the Place de la République by relentlessly deploying tear gas,” the party leader said.
“Confrontation seems to be the goal of this ‘public order’ strategy. Pathetic.” Mélenchon added. Police were also seen using tear gas on protesters in Strasbourg, France, amid today’s nationwide demonstrations.
The demonstrators can be seen chanting and holding placards in the video above, from the Reuters news agency. Activists have joined students in demonstrations across France, as we’ve been reporting. Protesters in Paris are telling us why they’ve chosen to take part. Maria Pallas, 57, who is a member of Confédération générale du travail, one of France’s largest trade unions, said she was protesting “for the cost of living,” and to highlight the conditions faced by the country’s students. Meanwhile, 15-year-old Vera attended protests in the capital with her family, saying she hopes “things will change.” Another protestor, who gave her name as Pauline, said: “There’s an accumulation of wealth and power that’s completely out of control.