French police arrest 1,800 as violent protests and looting spread across France
French police arrested 1,800 people after violent protests and looting across France, with a historic town hall torched and hundreds of businesses damaged, prompting President Emmanuel Macron to address the nation Sunday evening. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said investigations are underway to bring perpetrators to justice, with 557 people in custody in Paris after a record number of arrests. Around 1,500 businesses were damaged, causing losses estimated in the hundreds of millions of euros, and 500 police and emergency workers were hurt. The protests, joined by students and the Yellow Vests movement, were driven by cost-of-living concerns and fuel prices, with one death reported as health-related. Political leaders traded blame, with officials accusing ultra-left groups and far-right figures of exploiting the unrest.