“It is largely lost”: the terrible images of the fire at the Limoges town hall, on the sidelines of the demonstration of October 17

An incandescent frame ravaged by flames. “This beautiful town hall in Limoges,” lamented an Internet user this Saturday as a fire devoured the roof of Limoges town hall. The fire broke out after a group of individuals attacked the building during violence that occurred at the end of the demonstration against the high cost of living.

The fire spread over one wing of the building and reached the roof, whose beams threatened to collapse. Around 8 p.m., firefighters were still battling the flames to try to prevent them from burning down the entire building. This historic building was inaugurated in 1883 and its architecture is inspired by the Paris City Hall. “It is largely lost,” declared the prefect of Haute-Vienne.

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Clashes near the prefecture

From a distance, hundreds of people watched the blaze, distraught. A town hall employee was crying in the arms of an elected official. Several thousand people took part in the demonstration before violence broke out at the end. After burning a municipal police car in front of city hall, hooded individuals broke windows to get inside and set fire.

Violence took place near a road interchange in the city, where thugs set fire to a national police car, according to the daily Le Populaire du Center, while businesses were looted in the city center. Clashes also took place with the police on the outskirts of the Haute-Vienne prefecture, with projectiles thrown, mortars fired and tear gas grenades.