Violent protests erupt across France, resulting in 1,800 arrests and widespread damage

Demonstrations across France over rising living costs and school conditions turned violent on October 18, 2026, resulting in approximately 1,800 arrests nationwide, including 855 in the Paris region. Rioters looted hundreds of shops, burned the historic 19th-century Limoges city hall, and vandalized a Paris synagogue, with around 500 emergency personnel injured. President Macron was scheduled to address the nation Sunday evening as France began cleanup efforts and authorities prepared prosecutions.