Clashes in France as uprising swells to millions

Millions took to the streets in France on Saturday (17 October), paralysing the centres of several major cities. There were widespread clashes between demonstrators and security forces.

In Paris, hundreds of thousands converged on the Place de la République. The situation escalated into hours of fighting, with hundreds of barricades and the burning of vehicles. Reports indicate that protestors eventually pushed toward the Élysée Palace. A police source cited by Valeurs Actuelles was reported to say: “The situation is out of control in Paris… we are running everywhere and retreating a lot”.

2,300 people were reported arrested on Saturday, nearly half in Paris. This adds up to over 10,000 arrests in the last three weeks, including 8,000 targeting students and minors.

Early reports indicate one death in Paris; the victim is believed to have been a volunteer medic who suffered a “cardiorespiratory arrest” during intense clashes near Boulevard Magenta.

The uprising has spread to France’s overseas territories. In Réunion, a McDonald’s and the façade of a gendarmerie were set on fire, leading to 18 arrests and 11 injured police officers. In Guadeloupe the situation remains critical, with reports of gunfire targeting police and the deployment of the RAID and GIGN elite units. A curfew for minors has been declared.

In Lyon, the Presqu’île district was a focal point on Saturday. The city’s tourism office was set ablaze, and numerous high-end boutiques, including a Hugo Boss store, were targeted. Demonstrators engaged in systematic looting, which some described as “free markets”. Police deployed armoured “Centaure” vehicles to regain control of the bridges.

In Nantes, an estimated 50,000 people faced police aggression from the very start of the demonstration, triggering hours of rioting. Law enforcement was forced to retreat several times, and areas previously cordoned off by the prefecture were reclaimed by the protesters. The train station was vandalized, a FNAC store and several other shops were were occupied or looted. Barricades were everywhere and armoured vehicles were deployed.

In Dijon, 10,000 people took the city centre, where protesters described “absurd, over-the-top repression” with tear gas, sting-balls and stun grenades. “Dozens of people were injured. Feet split open, skulls gashed, faces lacerated”.

Severe injuries caused by LBD (flash-ball) rounds and explosive grenades have been documented across several cities. Two individuals, including a 17-year-old girl, reportedly lost an eye due to police projectiles in Strasbourg and Mulhouse. A 17-year-old worker in Saint-Étienne suffered the complete loss of a hand following a police grenade explosion. In Saint-Nazaire a demonstrator was seriously injured in the eye by an LBD round.

France is at the forefront of a European wave of youth-led insurrection with self-organised protests now spreading to Belgium, Italy, Ireland, Germany and Austria. Demands vary from country to country, but the shared grievances are the cost of living, access to decent housing and deteriorating school infrastructure, all of which deepen the chasm between privileged minorities and excluded majorities.

More photos and reports on Contre-Attaque and InfoLibertaire. Paris Luttes provided a full rundown from elsewhere in mainland France:

Marseille: clashes have been ongoing since 9:00 a.m.; the police have been held at bay, the city hall has been occupied, two police stations have been attacked, and countless shops have been “requisitioned” so that goods could be shared among the people.

Bordeaux: the Palais de la Bourse (Stock Exchange building) has been ransacked, numerous fires have been set, and the private residence of the prefect has been torched. A heavy CRS (riot police) vehicle has caught fire. The RAID (elite police tactical unit) has been deployed this evening.

Caen: The police station and city hall were attacked. Multiple fires were set. A piece of construction machinery was used to force open the municipal police gate and destroy vehicles. Strasbourg: An insurrectionary situation; clashes are breaking out everywhere, unauthorized processions are taking over the streets, and law enforcement is overwhelmed.

Angers: City hall was attacked, the train station was overrun, and the ring road was blocked. Clashes continued for several hours.

Clermont: As elsewhere, the police deployed tear gas from the very beginning. The result: large, burning barricades and shattered storefronts, following hours of clashes. A shopping center was stormed.

Montpellier: The train station was overrun, and a large fire was lit near the tracks. Orléans: The prefecture was attacked by hundreds of people; the police issued an urgent call for reinforcements from the reserves. 

Brest: What the press described as a “pitched battle”—paving stones were torn up from the street to attack the police station, where officers had retreated.

 Avignon: Intruders entered the courtyard of the Vaucluse prefecture.

Lille: A video shows protesters entering city hall; there is widespread unrest. The Majestic cinema has been set ablaze.

Tours: The A10 motorway was blocked in both directions. Gendarmes were confronted while attempting to intervene, and the commander’s vehicle was damaged. “They tried to get into the car,” one officer explained, clearly exasperated. A gas station was also damaged and forced to close.

Grenoble: cars overturned and set on fire, significant damage to banks, the town hall vandalized. The regional education authority (rectorat) ransacked. 

Saint-Nazaire: clashes in front of the Saint-Nazaire train station and subsequently inside the Ruban Bleu shopping center. Demonstrations took place from the morning through the evening.

Niort: burning barricades.

Chambéry: the urban expressway occupied by protesters.

Nice: clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement on Avenue Jean Médecin.

Toulon: the A50 tunnel blocked in both directions.

Limoges: two police cars set on fire during a blockade. The town hall set ablaze this evening.

Reims: the A344 motorway blocked by nearly 1,000 demonstrators.

Annecy: a fire set in front of the courthouse.

Besançon: burning barricades on the Rue de la Préfecture; shops attacked.