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Members of the anti-criminality (BAC) police face demonstrators during ongoing protest action against the 'high cost of living' in Lille, northern France, on 17 October 2026. Photo: AFP
More than 1,800 people have been arrested following violent protests across France that involved clashes with police, arson and looting, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on Sunday.
In a post on X, Nunez said investigations were underway to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.
Violence erupted in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux and other cities on the sidelines of mass demonstrations against high inflation, partly driven by the US-Iran war.
The unrest followed four weeks of student protests over poor classroom conditions in French high schools, some of which had also turned violent.
Nunez blamed what he described as “several thousand ultra-left individuals” for clashes with police, the burning or vandalism of public buildings and widespread looting of shops on Saturday.
Around 500 police officers, firefighters and paramedics were injured during the protests, according to Nunez. He said the figure could change as further information becomes available.
France “will not yield to those who want to impose disorder and violence,” the interior minister added.