Protests against high living costs draw 550,000 in France
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Beninintelligent
A protest against the high cost of living brought around 550,000 people onto the streets in France, including 110,000 in Paris, according to the Interior Ministry, while organisers put the figure at 800,000. Around 400 people were arrested and violence was reported, notably the burning of Limoges town hall, reports AFP.
In Saint-Étienne, a 17-year-old protester had his hand blown off by a police grenade that he is alleged to have picked up, reports AFP. An investigation by the General Inspectorate of the National Police (IGPN) has been opened to establish the circumstances of the explosion.
In Limoges, the town hall, a 19th-century building, was set on fire and the flames reached its roof. In Lyon, a tourist office branch was vandalised and then set on fire, while looting and damage were reported in Paris and Marseille, according to Beninintelligent. The violence accompanied the national protests against the high cost of living on Saturday 17 October.
Summary produced with the help of artificial intelligence tools, under AFREEQUE’s editorial responsibility.
