Night of chaos in Paris, Lyon and Marseille: Burnt buildings, looted shops and 2,400 arrests – What Macron said in his address

France is reeling from the most violent day of protests in years. In his address, the French president promised strict punishment and full transparency about the security forces’ actions.

France woke up on Sunday to burned cars , looted shops and damaged public buildings , following the nationwide protests of Saturday, October 17, against the austerity , which on the margins developed into widespread riots .

Record arrests and hundreds injured: One dead and a few mutilated teenagers among the heavy toll

According to the latest figures from the Interior Ministry, 2,397 arrests were made, while 997 police officers and gendarmes were injured , seven of them seriously . In Paris alone , 855 arrests were made. This number is close to the almost 2,000 arrests recorded in a single day of “Yellow Vest” protests in December 2018.

A protester died of a heart attack during the Paris protests, but authorities said the death was due to health reasons and not related to the violence. Serious injuries were also recorded among the protesters: a 17-year-old lost his right arm to a stun grenade in Saint-Etienne , while two teenagers lost an eye and an arm in total.

Battlefield cities: Limoges city hall in flames, 1,500 businesses looted and hundreds of millions in damage

Around 1,500 businesses were damaged, with losses estimated at hundreds of millions of euros , according to the retail federation. Looting was reported in hundreds of stores in Paris , Marseille , Bordeaux , Nice and Strasbourg .

The most symbolic image came from Limoges , where a fire destroyed the 19th-century town hall ; the local prefect said the fire was deliberately set and was only brought under control in the early hours of Sunday. In Lyon , a tourist information office in the city centre was set on fire . In Paris, deputy mayor Lamia El Aaraz spoke of a level of violence the capital has never seen before .

New clashes and tear gas on Sunday in Democracy Square

The tension did not let up on Sunday: hundreds of protesters gathered again in Democracy Square under a strong police presence and security forces used tear gas .

From precision to explosion: Over half a million on the streets

The Interior Ministry counted 550,000 protesters , while the CGT put the number at 800,000 . The demonstrations were called by the “Yellow Vests” , with the main demand being the cost of living , which has skyrocketed in part due to the war in the Middle East . Students also joined them, protesting poor conditions in schools .

Macron’s message: “Anger and shame” – Ruthless with rioters, targeting the ultra-left

Speaking from the Elysee Palace at 8:00 p.m. local time, Emmanuel Macron said that “tonight we all feel anger and shame.” He attributed the violence to far-left groups , to which many offenders had joined, and warned that the state would be ruthless with those who resort to violence.

The Elysee’s measures: Transparency for the police, prefects on alert and dialogue during the week

The president called for a distinction to be made between demonstrators with legitimate demands and those who destroyed, broke and looted , while promising full transparency in the handling of the security forces, following criticism that police preparation was inadequate . He announced that prefects , in collaboration with mayors , would take decisions on the protection of cities, public buildings and shops , and that the prime minister would convene students, teachers, unions, employers, local authorities and parliamentarians within the week.

Macron expressed the nation’s support for the forces of order and thoughts for the injured and their families, as well as for the traders and professionals affected. He called on parties, professional organizations and unions to unequivocally condemn the violence , recalling that the presidential election is exactly six months away.

Political storm after the proclamation: Fire for the silence towards the injured protesters and the Celine Dion concert

The address did not end the political debate. The president made no mention of the young protesters who were seriously injured , while the head of the largest secondary education union accused him of postponing answers until later , while simultaneously preaching to social institutions. The government and Marine Le Pen blame the far-left , while Jean-Luc Mélenchon accuses the authorities of fueling the tension .

Macron himself has come under fire for attending a Celine Dion concert on Friday, the night before the protests that turned violent. The unrest is putting pressure on a president who steps down in 2027 after a decade in power.