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Getty ImagesDisorder broke out in cities across France on Saturday during the latest day of demonstrations against education standards and the cost of living.
At least 400 people were arrested during what the French government described as an “escalation in violence” alongside an estimated 550,000 taking to the streets.
While much of the main planned protest in Paris passed off without incident, there were also significant clashes with riot police, who used tear gas and water cannon on crowds.
Buildings were set alight in the French capital and in Lyon, where a tourist office housed in a 19th Century building was destroyed.
Looting broke out in several cities, with widespread vandalism targeted against city halls and businesses also reported.
Getty ImagesIn Paris, the main march appeared to be largely peaceful during the afternoon. A group of young people told the BBC they were “pacifists” who are “just trying to make things change, but nothing is moving”.
However, as the day wore on some groups lit fires in the street and torched vehicles, including in iconic locations in the city centre like the Place de la République.
Shops were ransacked, at least one restaurant was gutted by fire, and the BBC saw fighting breaking out among some of the groups.
In Lyon, Mayor Grégory Doucet said the burning of the city’s tourist office was “a tragedy” for the city, telling BFMTV “it breaks our hearts because it’s a very iconic, well-known historic building”.
Local police said “hostile individuals” prevented firefighters from safely tackling the blaze.
The interior ministry said the protests involved “targeted acts of violence” from “hooded individuals” in places, including parts of the capital and also Marseille, Rennes, Toulouse and Angers.
Damage to buildings was reported across France, including in Grenoble, Avignon, Pau, Montpellier and Valence.
Clothes and food shops were raided in Paris, while an Apple store in Lille was broken into and emptied.
Hundreds of thousands of students have protested in recent weeks over staff shortages and dilapidated facilities in the country’s lycées – secondary schools attended by 15 to 18-year-olds.
On Saturday, their numbers were bolstered by trade union members and other protest groups.
While France is no stranger to outbreaks of protest and disorder, this round comes as the country heads into a period of deep political uncertainty.
French President Emmanuel Macron will leave office next year and polls suggest April’s presidential election could come down to a fight between the leader of the National Rally, Marine Le Pen, and Jean-Luc Mélenchon of the hard-left La France Insoumise party.
The latter took part in demonstrations in France and later accused police officers of “unleashing” on protesters, while condemning looting and arson.
France’s Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said his comments were “dangerous and cynical”.
He earlier said police had faced “violence of extreme intensity” and some groups were using the protests as a “warm-up” for the presidential elections, adding: “No-one will impose their political agenda through violence.”
Le Pen said “legitimate demands” voiced by protesters had been “held hostage by the far left”, accusing Mélenchon of fuelling the violence.
ReutersFrench President Emmanuel Macron said: “Those who have broken, attacked the prefectures as well as businesses, looted even our town halls, will be prosecuted and punished.”
The government has made apparent attempts at concessions, with Education Minister Édouard Geffray promising 3,000 extra supply teachers, during a television interview on 8 October.
However, the protests have continued and intensified.
