France is once again in the grip of massive protests, with tens of thousands of citizens flooding the streets of major cities.
Clashes broke out at the end of the demonstrations, on a much smaller scale, compared to those of last weekend, partly because demonstrators were barred from passing through certain central locations in Paris and other cities.
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Reports indicate 500 arrests, while according to the French Ministry of Health, more than 1,000 people have been injured in the ongoing protests across France.
This figure 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.
In Paris, after the demonstrations ended, clashes broke out and police fired tear gas, while another incident of tension occurred when two large groups of people—one from the far-left and the other from the far-right—clashed in the midst of the protests.
“We won’t stop until Macron listens,” say protesters in Paris, describing the difficulties citizens now face in their daily lives.
— Novia News (@NoviaNewsGroup) October 24, 2026
ALERTE INFO | DIRECT — La situation se tend porte de Vincennes, à Paris. De nouvelles tensions éclatent entre manifestants et forces de l’ordre, en marge de la mobilisation du 24 octobre. https://t.co/Hf6ZJDCdxv
#WATCH | A large number of people protest across France against the rising cost of living; visuals from Paris. (Source: Reuters) https://t.co/67QMmWmv0c
— ANI (@ANI) October 24, 2026
Paris 24 octobre. Premières tensions en marge de la manifestation. Utilisation du cannon à eau à porte de Vincennes https://t.co/dNoUVRXKsD
— Arthur (@arthur_duterque) October 24, 2026
MANIF / PARIS : Des affrontements éclatent à Paris en fin de manifestion. #24octobre https://t.co/bIScsE2Gf1
— Infos Françaises (@InfosFrancaises) October 24, 2026
Clashes are intensifying in Marseille
Serious clashes are also taking place in Marseille, where tensions are escalating following the conclusion of the mass demonstration. According to the latest reports, riot police were forced to temporarily retreat as the situation in the area deteriorated.
BREAKING: Riots have broken out in Marseille. The riot police have been forced to retreat. https://t.co/mUaVqCvrtE
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) October 24, 2026
Significant police reinforcements, as well as a specialized water cannon vehicle, are heading to the scene to deal with the disturbances and restore order.
Tensions à Marseille : les forces de l’ordre se font attaquer à coups de mortier. @confrontfr #24octobre https://t.co/odQbLkrq9C
— Jon De Lorraine (@jon_delorraine) October 24, 2026
Les voitures obligées de traverser les flammes #Marseille https://t.co/Zc9ldEfpHf
— Antoine Baudino (@AntoineBaudino) October 24, 2026
Varying estimates of turnout
A total of 410,000 people protested today across France, 110,000 of them in Paris, as part of a major mobilization against the rising cost of living and in defense of public services, the Ministry of the Interior announced. This number is significantly lower than the 550,000 who took to the streets a week ago.
However, the CGT union disputed these figures, estimating that the total number of protesters reached 800,000, 250,000 of whom participated in the march in Paris.
Clashes between protesters and police occurred mainly in Paris, Lyon, Rennes, Nantes, Bordeaux, Nice, and Marseille.
Disturbances in Other Areas
Earlier, riots also broke out in Lyon, Bordeaux, and Grenoble, while police fired tear gas at protesters in Clermont-Ferrand, Lille, and Nice.
In Marseille, France’s second-largest city, young people dragged large metal barriers to block a street, set trash cans on fire, and threw rocks and bottles at police officers. The clashes continued as night fell.
With information from APE-MPE, protothema.gr, skai.gr
