Protests over cost of living turn violent in Paris, Marseille, and Brussels

Protests against the high cost of living turned violent across France and Belgium on Saturday, with clashes, arrests, and property damage reported in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, and Brussels. French authorities reported 166 arrests nationwide by midday, with 133 in Paris alone. In Paris, police used tear gas and a water cannon against hundreds of masked protesters, including far-left groups, who threw projectiles. In Marseille, demonstrators briefly forced their way into the city hall, prompting President Emmanuel Macron to promise immediate police reinforcements. In Brussels, rioters clashed with police near the Midi station, burning shared bikes and scooters and erecting barricades. The nationwide mobilization, called by former "yellow vest" activists and youth groups, involved approximately 1,500 planned actions. Authorities anticipated up to 150,000 protesters outside Paris and 40,000 in the capital. Macron urged calm, emphasizing the right to protest must be exercised with respect for people and property.