More than 400,000 protesters took part in Saturday’s demonstrations across France, which, although they began peacefully, are becoming increasingly tense. For its part, the CGT union estimated the number of participants at 800,000.
According to the French Minister of the Interior, French police arrested nearly 1,000 people on Saturday during the demonstrations, noting that the number of arrests would rise as more information became available from police authorities.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Laurent Nounier stated that, although the protests over the cost of living “proceeded peacefully” in the cities, police forces later faced “extremely high levels of violence” from “far-left” groups.
Charge de la police alors que des manifestants tentent de dresser une barricade Porte de Vincennes à Paris. #24octobre #Paris #France https://t.co/pOEp6EbqjW
— Luc Auffret (@LucAuffret) October 24, 2026
The march in Paris began peacefully; however, near its endpoint at Porte de Vincennes, some protesters began throwing objects, while police responded with repeated tear gas canisters and water cannons to disperse the crowd.
Authorities had restricted the march’s route to the southeastern outskirts of the French capital, keeping protesters away from central neighborhoods that had been hit by last weekend’s riots.
More than 1,000 injured nationwide
The number of people injured in the ongoing protests across France has risen to more than 1,000, according to figures released earlier by the French Ministry of Health.
The tally includes those who received first aid from emergency responders at the scenes of the incidents, as well as those who were transported or went to hospitals in various parts of the country
110,000 Protesters in Paris—Clashes with Rioters
Clashes broke out toward the end of the demonstration in Paris, and “more than 500 rioters attacked law enforcement officers on Avenue de Vincennes, in the southeastern part of the city, where 110,000 people (250,000 according to organizers) had demonstrated earlier today, police announced.
“More than 500 rioters are attacking law enforcement officers on Avenue de Vincennes,” the police department reported, adding that police forces are carrying out tactical maneuvers aimed at “facilitating the dispersal of the crowd.”
Looting of stores in Marseille
Looting and attempted looting occurred at five stores, including a jewelry store and a supermarket, on Saturday in Marseille, on the sidelines of a demonstration held in the city. According to the Agence France-Presse (AFP), 17 people were arrested at a supermarket that was targeted during the incidents.
According to police, 17,000 people took part in the demonstration, while the CGT union puts the number of participants at 100,000. The demonstration began peacefully, but clashes with police broke out toward the end of the march.
Dégradation du 24 octobre: une bijouterie saccagée et pillée à Marseille https://t.co/hqFrYzry1S
— BFM (@BFMTV) October 24, 2026
“At the end of the day, several groups of people attempted to engage in looting in various parts of the city,” the mayor of Marseille, Benoît Payan, in a post on the X platform.
For his part, French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, spoke of “attempts at looting” in Marseille’s 5th arrondissement, stating during a press conference that “all individuals involved have been arrested.”
According to a source cited by AFP, a total of five businesses were reportedly targeted. These include a jewelry store and a supermarket, where the 17 arrests took place.
Vandalism and Attacks on Police in Grenoble
Nearly 400 “people dressed in black with their faces covered” engaged in vandalism and attacked police forces “with improvised projectile launchers and other objects” on the fringes of the demonstrations in Grenoble, according to a statement from the local prefecture.
À Grenoble, en marge de la manifestation du 24 octobre, plusieurs commerces ont été caillasses par une trentaine d’individus. Hués par les manifestants, une bagarre s’est ensuite déclenchée entre les groupes. https://t.co/uBpHwuglDb
— Le Dauphiné Libéré Grenoble Sud Isère (@LeDL_Grenoble) October 24, 2026
The statement notes that the masked protesters belonged to the “Black Bloc” group and that police intervened to restore order in the city, which is located in southeastern France. The Prefecture adds, in a post on the X platform, that the demonstration was organized by the CGT union and the “Yellow Vests” movement.
In Nice, clashes broke out between protesters and far-right activists. One person suffered a nose injury from a punch, while according to the police, approximately 300 protesters and 50 far-right members remained at the scene.
Police are being pelted with stones in Bordeaux
The situation in Bordeaux is tense, as more than 35 people have already been arrested. According to a police source, a group of about 1,000 people displayed a hostile attitude toward law enforcement. “The situation is tense,” the same source told Le Parisien.
— Actu17 (@Actu17) October 24, 2026
Bordeaux : Un Centaure de la gendarmerie utilisé pour déblayer une barricade incendiée #24octobre https://t.co/MICLKN15BT
Police officers were pelted with paving stones, resulting in several minor injuries. “They are still holding their positions,” the same source confirmed.
Des centaines de pavés ont été arrachés du sol sur la place de la Bourse à Bordeaux et ont été utilisés comme projectiles contre les forces de l’ordre. Ces dernières poursuivent leur progression pour disperser les groupes de casseurs encore présents dans le secteur. https://t.co/9zStxLEB9L
— Le Figaro (@Le_Figaro) October 24, 2026
Toulouse: Protester Seriously Injured in the Arm
During clashes that broke out toward the end of the demonstration in the Arènes district, west of the city center, an injured protester was taken from the scene by a fire department ambulance.
“During the dispersal of a gathering, one person received first aid from emergency services for a serious hand injury,” confirmed the Haute-Garonne Prefecture.
The incident occurred after the demonstration ended and the main march had dispersed; the march had proceeded peacefully to the Saint-Cyprien (Saint-Cyprien), having started from the upper section of the Allées Jean-Jaurès, according to our correspondent Paul Périé.
“At this stage, the circumstances under which the individual was injured are unknown. An investigation will be conducted under the supervision of judicial authorities to clarify the incident,” the Prefecture stated.
According to a volunteer first responder (street medic), who provided first aid to the injured person and wishes to remain anonymous, the protester sustained “a serious injury to his right hand, with several fingers severed,” caused by an object exploding at close range.
41 arrests in Nantes
In Nantes, police announced that 41 people have been arrested in connection with violent incidents during “unauthorized gatherings.”
Les manifestants sont repoussés à Duchesse Anne https://t.co/dOL6gsIRSn
— Actu Nantes (@actu_nantes) October 24, 2026
In a statement on Platform X, the prefect of the Pays de la Loire region and the Loire-Atlantique department (Préfet des Pays de la Loire et de Loire-Atlantique) stated that police forces remain “on full operational alert” to counter violence and looting in the city, located in northwestern France.
Meanwhile, in Lyon and Marseille, minor clashes broke out between masked youths and police officers.
Plusieurs de nos journalistes signalent la présence de membres de l’ultra droite dans le centre-ville de Nice, vers Hôtel des Postes et Alberti. Après avoir été dispersés sur Jean-Médecin par la police, notre journaliste a été témoin d’une scène très violente, stoppée par l’intervention des forces de l’ordre, qu’il qualifie de "surréaliste".
— Nice-Matin (@Nice_Matin) October 24, 2026
Tear gas was also reportedly fired at protesters in Clermont-Ferrand, Grenoble, Lille, and Nice, where police also deployed a water cannon after protesters refused to obey orders and retreat.
Source: iefimerida.gr / protothema.gr
