French protests against inflation turn violent in Paris, Lyon, and Marseille

Violent protests erupted across France on Saturday as tens of thousands demonstrated against soaring inflation, resulting in clashes with police, looting of dozens of stores, multiple fires, and over 400 arrests nationwide. In Paris, Lyon, Marseille, and other cities, masked protesters threw projectiles and fireworks at police, who responded with tear gas and water cannons. A protester in Saint-Étienne had a hand blown off by a police grenade, the second such injury in under two weeks, while town halls in Limoges and Marseille were stormed. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu condemned the "violence of extreme intensity," while far-right candidate Marine Le Pen blamed rioters for hijacking legitimate demands. The CGT union reported 500,000 participants across 1,750 rallies, as the unrest adds pressure on the government ahead of presidential elections scheduled for April and May 2027.