France’s 143-Year-Old Limoges Town Hall Destroyed After Set on Fire as Protests Turn Violent

France witnessed widespread violence, looting and arson on Saturday as nationwide protests over soaring living costs escalated into clashes with police, leaving Limoges’ more than 143-year-old town hall largely destroyed by fire.

Masked protesters broke into the historic building in Limoges and set it ablaze, according to the region’s top official. Town halls in Marseille and Lille were also targeted, while a police compound in Bordeaux was vandalised and protesters set fire to a tourist office in Lyon.

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu reportedly said 1,200 people had been arrested and 150 police officers injured by late Saturday. The unrest comes amid weeks of student protests and growing political uncertainty ahead of elections to replace President Emmanuel Macron.

Historic Building Destroyed as Violence Spreads

The destruction in Limoges formed part of a wider wave of vandalism across French cities as demonstrations over the cost of living descended into street violence.

According to the Interior Ministry, 550,000 people attended marches in the capital and other cities. The CGT union, which participated in the demonstrations, put the figure at 800,000 as per reports.

Police deployed tear gas and water cannons against protesters who threw projectiles and set off fireworks. In the southern city of Saint-Etienne, a 17-year-old boy lost his right hand after a crowd-control grenade exploded.

In Paris, city mayor Emmanuel Gregoire reportedly said entire streets had been devastated as masked groups set parked cars on fire and ransacked shops.

Shops Looted Across Major French Cities

Groups of youths roamed the streets during and after the demonstrations, confronting police, setting fires and breaking into closed businesses.

Supermarkets, pharmacies, luxury boutiques, clothing shops, opticians, cosmetics outlets and electronics stores were looted in Paris, Marseille, Nice, Nantes, Bordeaux, Limoges, Lille, Toulouse and Strasbourg.

AFP reporters in Paris observed groups of around six young men targeting shops in an organised manner. The masked individuals wore gloves, disconnected security cameras and then smashed windows to gain entry.

The attacks added to widespread destruction and vandalism throughout the country, with public buildings and commercial establishments among the targets.

Macron Vows Action Against Rioters

President Emmanuel Macron vowed to pursue those responsible for the violence, reportedly saying on X that people who committed vandalism, attacked administrative offices or businesses, or engaged in looting would face prosecution and punishment.

The unrest also intensified political tensions as opposition figures sought to challenge Macron ahead of the presidential elections scheduled for April and May.

Far-right candidate Marine Le Pen condemned the rioters and accused the party of her far-left rival, Jean-Luc Melenchon, of legitimising the violence.

Le Pen reportedly said on X that she would protect French citizens from what she described as violence from the extreme left if she came to power.

Melenchon, who had backed the demonstrations and preceding student protests, urged participants to avoid looting, calling it contrary to the movement’s methods.

Cost of Living Fuels Anger Against Government

The demonstrations were called by France’s Yellow Vest movement, which staged street protests eight years ago against Macron’s government over planned fuel tax increases. Saturday’s action was billed as the “yellow and youth” demonstrations.

The rising cost of living was the principal grievance, with the source material linking higher inflation in Europe, among other factors, to the war in the Middle East.

Kamil Alahyan, an 18-year-old high school student, said he was protesting over several issues, including the upcoming elections, politicians who lie and the growing wealth of the ultra-rich over the past decade.

Protesters Invoke French Revolution

Some demonstrators drew comparisons with the French Revolution of 1789 as anger against the government spread.

In the western city of La Rochelle, marchers carried a placard reading, “Revolution or death.” In Montpellier, a giant blue sign bearing the words “The people will win” was unfurled above a central square.

Ryad Rani, head of the LSU high school student representative body, reportedly said in Paris that public anger was putting the government under pressure.

The protests have added to France’s political uncertainty as the country prepares for elections in six months, with clashes, looting and attacks on public buildings overshadowing the demonstrations over living costs.