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French President Emmanuel Macron urged an end to violence and appealed for calm in a televised address after protests against rising living costs and fuel prices erupted into widespread riots that left one protester dead and prompted authorities to pursue prosecutions against those responsible for the destruction. The interior ministry reported that police made 2400 arrests nationwide while nearly 1000 officers sustained injuries seven of them serious during clashes that saw buildings torched shops looted and vehicles set ablaze. Macron drew a clear line between participants with legitimate grievances and those who engaged in what he termed unbridled violence insisting that nothing justifies the destruction witnessed in multiple cities.
The demonstrations on Saturday drew approximately 550000 participants for largely peaceful marches before splinter groups turned to arson and looting in Paris Marseille and other urban centers according to government tallies. A town hall was set on fire graffiti covered public buildings and businesses were ransacked in scenes that the interior ministry attributed to ultra-left activists and criminal elements seeking to exploit the unrest. Fresh confrontations continued into the following day in the capital and southern port city where riot police deployed tear gas and water cannons to block further attempts at pillaging.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez provided the official figures on arrests and injuries while confirming that one demonstrator died after suffering a cardiac arrest during the Paris protests. The ministry’s data places the scale of the disorder among the most significant in recent years surpassing many daily tallies from previous waves of social discontent. Nunez added that investigations were underway to identify perpetrators so they could face court proceedings for attacks on public infrastructure and private property.
The protests built on grievances over deteriorating public services including underfunded schools that have fueled student demonstrations since late September when the education ministry recorded hundreds of institutions closing amid rallies. A separate interior ministry assessment from earlier in the month had already logged more than 6600 arrests linked to those school-related actions which overlapped with revived yellow-vest style mobilizations against economic pressures. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu had earlier noted that more than 150 officers were injured in the initial wave of Saturday actions before the full toll climbed higher.
Macron stated in his address that authorities would ensure full transparency regarding the police response while ordering a review of intelligence gathering and preparedness to prevent future escalations. He acknowledged the anger many French people feel over economic conditions but emphasized that peaceful expression must not be conflated with criminal acts that damaged national symbols and local services. The president promised that those involved in the riots would answer for their actions before the justice system as part of a broader effort to restore order.
Clashes in Paris on Sunday prompted additional deployments of security forces after unauthorized gatherings formed in response to social media calls according to city police statements. Marseille authorities separately reported more than 100 officer injuries in that region alone three of them serious as prefectural officials condemned the targeting of emergency responders. The events have prompted municipal leaders including the mayor of Paris to join the calls for de-escalation while promising support for affected businesses and communities.
