French demonstrations turn into riots, Macron will deliver a national address

More than 500,000 demonstrators took to the streets across France on Saturday (October 17) to protest against rising fuel prices, high living costs and deteriorating public services. Students, trade unionists and supporters of the "yellow vest" movement took part in one of the largest demonstrations in France in recent years.

Although most people rallied peacefully, some radical groups and masked demonstrators clashed with police and attacked public facilities in many cities. The more than 140-year-old city hall of Limoges in central France was burned down by arson; the Marseille city hall was broken into by demonstrators and graffitied anarchist slogans; and the Lyon tourism office was also damaged by arson. In addition, boutiques and supermarkets were looted, and police cars were burned in many places.

After the riots, scenes of devastation were left everywhere. The streets of Paris, Marseille and Lyon were littered with rubbish, overturned bicycles and looted goods from shops, as cleaning crews continued to clear the streets since late at night. Limoges's burned city hall is a protected historical building. Local officials said that after emergency rescue, the second half of the building was saved.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said on Sunday that about 1,800 people had been arrested across the country, including 855 in Paris. Paris police described this as a "record number" of detentions in the capital in response to a single day of protests. Preliminary statistics from the authorities show that at least 500 police and fire personnel were injured in the clashes.

The French government has launched investigations into cases of violence, arson, vandalism and robbery, and said it will hold relevant persons legally accountable.

Another protester died during the demonstration. Faced with the turbulent situation across the country, French President Macron will deliver a national address at 8pm French time on Sunday to respond to the political and social impact caused by the high price crisis and large-scale protests.