Clashes erupted in Paris, Marseille, and other cities after tens of thousands of demonstrators, some in Halloween fancy dress, marched across France in a third wave of protests over the cost of living and deteriorating public services. The interior minister, Laurent Nuñez, stated that while about 150 planned demonstrations around the country passed off peacefully, police encountered an “extraordinary” level of violence from some rioters as the rallies concluded.
Nuñez reported that one riot police officer was hit by a molotov cocktail in Paris, an incident he described as an “attempted murder,” adding that the night was not yet over. He noted that authorities were fully prepared for those looking for confrontation. According to the interior ministry, about 320,000 people took part in rallies around the country, down from an estimated 410,000 the previous weekend. This included 70,000 in Paris, where protesters marched along boulevards on the south-eastern outskirts to avoid the city centre.
As evening approached and the largely peaceful demonstrations ended, police in several cities fired teargas and stun grenades to disperse crowds joined by groups of masked rioters. Police carried out 511 arrests. Nuñez had previously warned that Saturday looked like “a very high risk” day, leading to the deployment of 70,000 police and gendarmes, including elite units, to quell potential violence.
In Paris, protesters set off peacefully from the Porte de Bagnolet near the ring road, carrying placards with slogans such as “No need for teargas to make our future look bleak” and “Disguised as an angry citizen for Halloween,” while a helicopter flew overhead. Upon reaching the Porte de Charenton, dozens of masked people dressed in black used hammers to pry up paving stones and hurl them at police, and at least one incendiary device was thrown at security forces. The Paris police prefecture stated that a “hardcore of several hundred rioters” attacked police with projectiles, and officers “manoeuvred to restore public order” using teargas and baton charges.
In Lyon, protesters threw projectiles at police, prompting officers to fire teargas, while in Toulouse, police used water cannon against an unauthorised protest involving several thousand mostly young demonstrators. The marches brought together school students, trade unions, and gilets jaune protesters united in anger at the cost of living, widening inequalities, and the government of Emmanuel Macron. Protester Jérôme Rodrigues remarked that the economy is failing under a group of “incompetents,” while Camille Guérin in Nantes stated the movement rejects the cost of living and the far right while supporting students' demands.
Saturday’s rallies followed widespread street violence and looting on 17 October. Student protesters have vowed to stage new high school and university blockades on Tuesday and Thursday, intending to join a 5 November demonstration called by workers and trade unions, according to Sabrine Kharbach of the Union Étudiante.
Protests also occurred elsewhere in Europe. In Germany, police fired water cannon to disperse protesters who hurled fireworks and other projectiles at the end of youth-led rallies organized by “Gen Z regelt!” In Frankfurt, at least two stores were looted and several others damaged, while a march was temporarily halted after fireworks were set off. In Cologne, police used water cannon after protesters targeted officers with fireworks. Reports from Bild indicated that in Berlin, protesters hurled bottles and eggs, while in Hamburg, barricades were set ablaze and police used pepper spray. Authorities were also on alert in Barcelona and Italy following recent clashes.
