French Protests Turn Violent as 565 Arrested and Police Officer Hit by Molotov Cocktail
A police officer was struck by a Molotov cocktail during violent demonstrations in Paris on Saturday, as protests over rising living costs and deteriorating public services turned violent in several French cities. The French interior ministry confirmed that 565 people were arrested nationwide as around 320,000 demonstrators took to the streets, down from 410,000 the previous weekend. In Paris, where approximately 70,000 people marched, four police officers and one gendarme sustained injuries, with three officers suffering burns from Molotov cocktails.
Interior Ministry Condemns Extraordinary Violence
Interior minister Laurent Nuñez condemned what he described as an “extraordinary” level of violence by some groups near the conclusion of the rallies. Nuñez had deployed 70,000 police officers and gendarmes ahead of the weekend, warning that Saturday was expected to be a high-risk day. He classified the attack on the officer as “attempted murder”. Speaking anonymously to French news outlet RTL, the injured gendarme described the immediate and intense burning sensation as the greasy flammable substance spread across his body, though he did not sustain injuries that blocked him from getting back to work, Metro reported.
🇫🇷 | #ParisIt was not a Molotov cocktail that was used against the police officers during the demonstration on 31/10/2026.https://t.co/B38PA2Glgq pic.twitter.com/Bf949bk9eO
Clashes Break Out Across Multiple French Cities
While around 150 planned demonstrations remained peaceful, protests in Lyon and Toulouse escalated. In Lyon, protesters threw projectiles at police, who responded with tear gas. In Toulouse, officers deployed water cannon against an unauthorised demonstration attended by several thousand people, mostly young protesters. The demonstrations drew school students, trade unions, and Yellow Vest protesters, all expressing frustration with President Emmanuel Macron’s government over widening inequalities and the state of public services.
Youth-Led Unrest Spreads to Germany and Albania
Unrest spread to Germany, where youth-led demonstrations organised by the group “Gen Z regelt!” turned violent. In Frankfurt, at least two stores were looted and several others damaged, leading police to close off the main shopping street. Polizei Hessen appealed for photo and video evidence of the property damage, thefts, and physical attacks on officers. State premier of Hesse Boris Rhein stated that attackers had placed themselves outside society. Similar clashes and police interventions involving water cannon, fireworks, bottles, eggs, and burning barricades occurred in Berlin, Hamburg, and Cologne. Meanwhile, in Tirana, Albania, anti-government protests outside the education ministry saw masked youths throw paving stones and firebombs at police, renewing calls for Prime Minister Edi Rama to resign.
Upcoming Union Demonstrations and Blockades
Student groups announced plans for further high school and university blockades ahead of a demonstration called by workers and trade unions on November 5.
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