France's 'Day of Anger' sees riots and arson in multiple cities
France experienced widespread unrest on Saturday during cost-of-living protests, with violent groups burning public buildings, looting stores, and attacking police in several cities, overshadowing peaceful marches attended by hundreds of thousands. Authorities reported 1,200 arrests and 150 security personnel injured. Damage included a historic town hall in Limoges, municipal buildings in Grenoble, Lyon, Marseille, and Lille, plus a police complex in Bordeaux. A 17-year-old lost his right hand in Saint-Étienne from a police grenade explosion. President Emmanuel Macron vowed to punish all perpetrators of vandalism and looting. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen blamed leftist rival Jean-Luc Mélenchon for legitimizing violence, while US Vice President JD Vance attributed the riots to immigration and poor integration. The unrest comes six months before presidential elections.