France arrests 400 as 550,000 protest nationwide

At least 400 people were arrested during protests across France on Saturday, October 17, 2026, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, who also reported 550,000 participants nationwide, while organizers claim over 800,000 attended. Nuñez stated most arrests were made in flagrante delicto, with police working with the judiciary in coming weeks to prosecute detainees. He reported 110 marches nationwide, including 110,000 participants in Paris, where clashes led to a tourist information center being set on fire and shops looted. President Emmanuel Macron declared on X that those damaging public buildings and businesses will be prosecuted, calling for unity against "sowers of chaos." The protests began in September over teacher shortages and poor school facilities, expanding to broader issues of inequality and public spending.