French protests turn violent with 1,200 arrests across Paris, Marseille, and Limoges

France experienced nationwide violence on Saturday as cost-of-living protests escalated into clashes, looting, and arson, resulting in 1,200 arrests and 150 police officers injured. The unrest followed weeks of student demonstrations, with masked youths attacking shops, town halls, and police compounds across cities including Paris, Marseille, and Limoges. A 17-year-old lost his hand to a grenade in Saint-Etienne. The violence occurred six months before presidential elections, drawing political reactions from candidates like Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Melenchon. Protesters cited inflation, rent costs, and inequality, with some drawing parallels to the French Revolution.