France rocked by violent protests as inflation marches turn to clashes and looting

France experienced widespread violence on Saturday as nationwide protests against inflation escalated into clashes, looting, and fires, with 1,200 arrests and 150 police officers injured reported by Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu. The unrest followed weeks of student demonstrations, with 550,000 to 800,000 people participating in marches. Gangs looted shops across multiple cities, and a 17-year-old was injured by a grenade in Saint-Etienne. The protests, organized by the Yellow Vest movement, occurred six months before presidential elections. Opposition candidates Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Melenchon traded blame over the violence, while some demonstrators drew parallels to the French Revolution.