PARIS, France: More than 800,000 people took part in 1,750 rallies across France on Saturday to protest the rising cost of living, the country’s main CGT trade union said, as clashes between police and demonstrators marred the nationwide protests.
The CGT said in a statement that its initial estimate had exceeded 500,000 before it raised the figure to around 800,000, AFP reported. The interior ministry had not yet released its own turnout estimate.
Mobilisations du 17 octobre: 800.000 personnes ont manifesté ce samedi, selon les organisateurs qui dressent un bilan définitif de la journée https://t.co/PgJKxsmKjI
— BFM (@BFMTV) October 17, 2026
A male protester lost a hand after a police crowd-control grenade exploded in the southern city of Saint-Etienne, a police source told AFP. The source did not specify whether the device was a stun grenade or a tear gas grenade, according to AFP.
The incident came less than two weeks after a 15-year-old student lost his left hand when a police stun grenade exploded outside his school in Lens on October 5, during a blockade by student protesters.
Mass protests have begun across France, as thousands are expected to take part in demonstrations around the country’s cost of living and education standards.
Video from Paris shows people gathering in the capital city as police fire tear gas and push them back through the streets.
At least 160 people have been arrested so far.
The protests began last month at high schools where students marched in anger over teacher absences and poor facilities, but has now become a nationwide movement about inequality.
— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) October 17, 2026
Clashes and Looting
Police used tear gas and water cannons against masked protesters in Paris and other cities who threw projectiles and set off fireworks, according to media reports.
Several parked cars were set on fire in the French capital, while more than 130 people were arrested.
In Lyon, protesters set fire to a tourist office in the city centre. In Marseille and Lille, demonstrators forced their way into town halls and vandalised the premises before leaving.
Dozens of shops were looted, according to AFP. The affected businesses included a Hermès boutique in Marseille, an Apple store in Lille, several shops in Nice and at least one mobile phone outlet in Paris.
In Paris, a crowd of more than 300 protesters tried to advance along the Champs-Elysees, a major avenue known for its luxury shops. Police fired tear gas to block their way as demonstrators shouted slogans against the police.
BREAKING – Dozens arrested in Paris as day of protests begins across France
Protesters across France called for street demonstrations against rising living costs, joining high school students’ grievances over education conditions https://t.co/GhchDHIaj4
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) October 17, 2026
The violence took place on the sidelines of marches that were largely peaceful and drew people of different ages, including families with children.
Paris Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire said the “overwhelming majority of demonstrators” wanted to march peacefully, but warned that acts of vandalism were damaging their protest.
Anger Over Living Costs
Tens of thousands of people marched through eastern and northern Paris in one of the main demonstrations. Some shouted slogans including “Macron, resign” and “Everyone hates the police”.
Jules Petrichor, 47, who attended with his son, told AFP that the march had initially been peaceful before police used tear gas.
“There was a good atmosphere and then suddenly they (the police) started gassing us, even though nothing was happening,” he said. “Naturally that worsened things and the hot-heads got hot-headed.”
Another protester, who gave his first name as Louis, 19, said police were too quick to use force during demonstrations. “We can’t protest any more, it’s frightening,” he said.
Hostility towards police has intensified during weeks of student protests, in which several teenagers have been injured and thousands of people arrested.
The Yellow Vest movement, which staged street protests against President Emmanuel Macron’s government eight years ago over planned fuel tax increases, had called for Saturday’s “yellow and youth” demonstrations.
The main grievance was the rising cost of living, which has contributed to broader public anger over economic conditions.
But protesters also raised concerns about political leadership, inequality and climate change.
High school student Kamil Alahyan, 18, said he was protesting for several reasons, including the 2027 elections, politicians he believed were dishonest and the concentration of wealth among the richest people.
“For years we’ve had climate, economy and equality problems but the government is not doing anything about it,” said Agnes, a 50-year-old actor who did not give her surname.
Anae, a 24-year-old student who also withheld her surname, said she was concerned about her future.
“Our planet’s burning. And we’ve got a government that doesn’t give a toss,” she said.
Political Rivals Trade Accusations
The demonstrations have become a focus for opposition politicians seeking to succeed Macron, whose presidency is due to end in 2027.
Marine Le Pen, the far-right presidential candidate who has expressed support for the police, condemned the violence in a post on X.
Piller, saccager, détruire, attaquer les forces de l’ordre : les émeutiers ont de nouveau pourri les manifestations du 17 octobre pour la défense du pouvoir d’achat.
Les revendications sociales légitimes ont une nouvelle fois été prises en otage par l’extrême gauche et les discours des députés de Jean-Luc Mélenchon qui, en légitimant la violence, en considérant l’ordre comme une oppression et le désordre comme un droit, cherchent à précipiter le pays dans le chaos.
Face à cette stratégie incendiaire, les Français qui n’en peuvent plus d’être pris en tenaille entre l’austérité et le matraquage fiscal du pouvoir et les activistes de l’insurrection doivent encore tenir quelques mois.
Nous les libérerons des politiques toxiques macronistes et les protégerons de la violence de l’extrême gauche.
— Marine Le Pen (@MLP_officiel) October 17, 2026
“Looting, pillaging, attacking police — rioters have once again sullied the October 17 demonstrations over the cost of living,” she wrote.
Le Pen said the protesters’ demands had been “hijacked by the far left”.
Jean-Luc Melenchon, her far-left rival, said early on Saturday that the demonstrations were proceeding peacefully. He accused television news outlets of “flooding us with images of violence in dozens of cities”.
