Paris was left covered in rubbish, damaged property and the remains of overnight fires on Sunday as violent protests continued despite French President Emmanuel Macron’s appeal for calm.
More than 500,000 people reportedly took to the streets during another day of demonstrations, with images showing burnt-out vehicles, burning barricades and debris scattered across roads throughout the French capital.
Footage shared on social media appeared to show masked individuals breaking into homes and looting businesses. Some shop owners have responded by hiring private security guards to protect their premises.
Clashes also erupted around Place de la République and near Châtelet–Les Halles, where people were seen attempting to smash the windows of shops, including a Snipes store. Other businesses were targeted as the violence continued into the night.
Macron Vows to Hold Those Responsible Accountable
In a televised address on Sunday evening, Macron condemned the destruction and promised consequences for those involved in the unrest.
“Nothing justifies it, nothing explains it, nothing excuses it,” he said, adding that people who looted businesses would have to pay for the damage caused.
The French president also pledged to hold accountable those he accused of attempting to undermine the Republic.
Earlier, Macron blamed what he described as agitators from far-left fringe groups, alongside criminals, for escalating the demonstrations into widespread violence. He also called for national unity following a weekend in which nearly 2,400 people were arrested and almost 1,000 police officers and gendarmes were injured, seven of them seriously.
However, further confrontations were reported in Paris after his address, with protesters erecting barricades and engaging in running battles with police. One demonstrator said the group wanted Macron to resign.
Protests That Began Over School Staffing and Living Costs
The demonstrations began about a month ago, led by teachers and students protesting staff shortages. They subsequently expanded into a broader movement against rising living costs.
The protests have attracted politicians and activists, including Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the left-wing France Unbowed party.
During the weekend, luxury retailers were among the businesses targeted by looters. Groups of hooded individuals were filmed forcing their way into high-end stores, including Christian Dior and Louis Vuitton, with reports describing shelves stripped of expensive clothing and jewellery.
Trainers and smartphones were also particular targets, while some looters were seen travelling on rented electric bicycles.
In one incident in Paris, a woman attempted to prevent a group from entering a grocery store through a damaged doorway. She urged them to stop, telling them that the destruction was not part of the cause they were protesting for, but the masked individuals pushed past her.
A police commander quoted by Le Parisien described the situation as “apocalyptic”, saying officers had struggled to contain multiple attacks taking place simultaneously across the country.
Historic Limoges Town Hall Damaged by Fire
The violence extended beyond Paris, with one of the most striking incidents involving the historic town hall in Limoges.
The building, which is around 140 years old, was engulfed in flames after a group reportedly forced its way inside during demonstrations against the cost of living.
Limoges mayor Guillaume Guerin criticised those he accused of organising the attack and exploiting young demonstrators.
He said the people responsible had brought equipment to break through barriers, smashed windows and identified basement entrances to gain access to the building.
Guerin described the planning and coordination behind the attack as particularly troubling, arguing that those directing the violence were not simply young people caught up in the demonstrations.
Trump Blames Immigration for the French Unrest
US President Donald Trump responded to the violence in a post on his Truth Social platform, declaring that “France is burning!” and blaming immigration for the unrest.
“The immigration of people from an entirely different world, people with hatred in their hearts, has shattered that once great country,” Trump wrote on Sunday morning.
He called on France to close its borders and regain control before the situation deteriorated further.
US Undersecretary of State Jacob Helberg also condemned the violence, describing it as a resurgence of what he called far-left political terrorism.
Helberg said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had previously hosted a ministerial meeting on the issue, arguing that the threat crossed national borders and involved networks that shared resources and coordinated violence.
He criticised those who justified or normalised the destruction, insisting that arson, intimidation and attacks on businesses were not legitimate forms of political expression.
Helberg added that the administration of Trump and Rubio would seek to dismantle networks it considered terrorist threats, disrupt their financing and bring those responsible to justice.
US Democrat Blames Wealth Inequality for Protests
California Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna offered a different explanation for the demonstrations, expressing support for young protesters and calling for a new economic and political programme in the United States.
Khanna said young people in France, Spain and Albania were demanding a future they could believe in amid concerns about wealth inequality.
He argued that French protesters were seeking safer schools, sufficient teachers and smaller classes, while criticising Vice President JD Vance for attributing the unrest to immigration from the Global South.
Khanna said the protests reflected growing frustration over wealth and power being concentrated in the hands of a small number of people.
He called for what he described as “America’s Next New Deal”, urging political leaders to listen to younger generations.
Violence Spreads to Milan, Bologna and Turin
Italy also experienced clashes during the weekend as demonstrations over living costs were followed by reports of looting and property damage.
Violence began in Milan on Saturday alongside an authorised demonstration against rising costs. Similar incidents were reported in the northern cities of Bologna and Turin after other protests.
On Sunday, police deployed tear gas and water cannons to disperse groups in a Milan square. Photographs showed masked individuals throwing objects at police vehicles, while a supermarket near the Duomo plaza was ransacked.
Rubbish bins were overturned, scooters and bicycles were vandalised, and shop windows were smashed.
Milan mayor Giuseppe Sala said he had witnessed damaged storefronts, looted businesses and frightened residents.
He expressed concern that the incidents reflected a wider international pattern rather than an isolated local problem.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for an urgent security meeting to address the unrest. On Saturday, she condemned those exploiting demonstrations to attack security personnel and disrupt entire cities.
“ To demonstrate is a right. To lay our cities to waste is not,” Meloni wrote on X.
Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, leader of the right-wing League party, described the scenes as “urban warfare”. Other government ministers also condemned the attacks.
Portugal Sees Demonstrations Over Housing and Wages
Portugal was also affected by protests, although the demonstrations described in Lisbon focused on housing shortages, rising rents and low wages.
Demonstrators gathered at Rossio Square in central Lisbon over the weekend, carrying banners calling for higher wages and pensions.
The cost of housing and fuel also featured prominently in their demands.
NFL Says Paris Game Will Go Ahead as Planned
Despite the unrest, the National Football League said preparations would continue for the scheduled game between the New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers in Paris the following Sunday.
An NFL spokesperson told the Daily Mail that the protests had caused no disruption or impact at league sites.
League spokesman Brian McCarthy said preparations for the game at Stade de France were proceeding according to schedule, with the NFL working closely with local authorities and partners on security and operational arrangements.
He added that both teams were receiving regular updates.
The 80,000-seat Stade de France, located just north of Paris, had not been affected by the violence reported in other parts of the country. The Saints were travelling to the French capital, while the Steelers were expected to arrive on Friday.
