France Protests: Chaos in Paris, Marseille, and Lille as Buildings Burn
Chaos erupted across Paris and other French cities on Saturday, with buildings set ablaze, hundreds arrested, and one protester reportedly losing a hand to a grenade, prompting the prime minister to condemn "extreme violence." Protesters stormed town halls in Marseille, Lille, and Bordeaux, looting shops and vandalizing property, while police used tear gas to disperse masked crowds on the Champs-Élysées. In Saint-Étienne, a demonstrator was maimed by a grenade, raising fears of further escalation. Political leaders traded blame, with the government vowing not to be intimidated and accusing far-left groups of fomenting chaos, while opposition figures criticized police tactics and media coverage of the unrest.