France arrests 1,800 in cost-of-living protests as violence escalates

French authorities arrested 1,800 people during nationwide cost-of-living protests on Saturday, with over 500 still in custody, as officials described unprecedented violence in Paris and other cities. The unrest poses a major challenge to President Emmanuel Macron in his final months before elections. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said investigations are underway to identify perpetrators, while Paris saw a record 855 arrests. Masked youths looted shops in multiple cities including Marseille, Bordeaux, and Nice, with barricades burned and vehicles torched. Around 500 police and emergency workers were injured, and a 17-year-old lost his hand to a grenade. The protests, attended by up to 800,000 people, were triggered by inflation partly linked to Middle East conflict. Analysts said violence came from ultra-left fringe groups and opportunistic looters, while political leaders traded blame. Far-right candidate Marine Le Pen and Macron's government both condemned the unrest, and US Vice President JD Vance linked it to immigration.