Protests in Montpellier, Toulouse, and Nîmes turn violent after peaceful start

Protests across southern France on October 17 began peacefully but ended in violence, with tear gas, looting, and clashes with police in cities including Montpellier, Toulouse, and Nîmes. In Toulouse, up to 32,000 people marched, but around 500 masked individuals in black clashed with police, leading to looting and broken storefronts; 53 people were arrested and eight officers injured. Montpellier saw 35,000 protesters, mostly students, with shops like Monoprix and Foot Locker ransacked before authorities urged people to disperse. Smaller protests in Béziers, Perpignan, Carcassonne, and Narbonne also saw tensions, with arrests and property damage. The demonstrations, initially against the high cost of living, drew diverse groups including "gilets jaunes," students, and retirees, with some rallies ending in fires and projectiles thrown at security forces.