1,200 Arrested as French Protests Turn to Riots and Looting

At least 1,200 people were arrested in France after cost-of-living protests escalated into riots, looting, and arson across multiple cities, leaving 150 police officers injured. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu condemned the "extreme intensity" of the violence. The unrest began during demonstrations that the Interior Ministry said drew 550,000 participants, though unions claimed 800,000. Police used tear gas and water cannons against protesters, and a 17-year-old lost his hand to a stun grenade explosion in Saint-Etienne. Looters targeted dozens of shops in cities including Paris, Marseille, and Bordeaux, while government offices were vandalized and burned. The violence comes six months before presidential elections, with politicians like Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Melenchon trading blame over the chaos.