In brief
On Friday, France's capital erupted into riots after peaceful demonstrations spiraled into violence. Thousands protested rising costs and fired on buses, while masked rioters damaged shops, cars and iconic stores. Police faced tear gas and water cannons, and 150 officers were injured. Across France, wave of vandalism reached Marseille, Lille and beyond.
The capital awoke to a scene of burnt out cars, shattered shopfronts and piled glass. Thousands protested and some masked rioters set fire to vehicles and blockaded streets.
About 1,800 people were arrested Saturday, and 150 police officers were wounded by batons, tear gas and water cannon. The unrest spread to Marseille, Lille and other towns, where cameras captured vandalism of a McDonald’s and an Apple store.
The protests, driven by soaring fuel costs and a crisis in public schooling, have drawn hundreds of thousands of students nationwide.
Students across France continue to demand more resources for schools, while Paris residents stare at damaged luxury boutiques of Ralph Lauren, Gucci and Versace, their glass facades now shattered.
Fire crews battled fires in Lyon’s tourist office, and a town hall in Limoges collapsed after a blaze set by a “wild horde”. The city is still working to clear the trail of destruction.
