Over 800 thousand people in demonstrations in France, police: "Record number of 855 arrested in Paris"

A protester who took to the streets in Paris against the high cost of living died of cardiac arrest. The town hall of Limoges, in central-western France, was devastated: the fire was contained but the roof collapsed during the clashes. Lecornu: “1,200 people were stopped and 150 police officers were injured”

The damage and injuries are being counted in the aftermath of the protests against the high cost of living in France, which resulted in violent clashes with the police. Last night's numbers, released by French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, spoke of 1200 arrested and 150 police officers injured. In Paris alone, 855 people were stopped: a record number according to what the French police reported. The protests, organized against the increase in the cost of living and to denounce the shortcomings of the school system, involved over 800 thousand people across the country. In several cities, including the capital, the demonstrations were marked by clashes with the police, fires and looting of shops.

Limoges town hall set on fire and destroyed

Over 800 thousand people took to the streets across France. The demonstrations and marches against the high cost of living, in addition to Paris, particularly involved Montpellier, Strasbourg, Lille, Bordeaux, Nantes and Marseille. In Limoges the town hall, a 19th century building, was set on fire by a group of violent protesters and was largely destroyed. The fire in the town in central-western France at first light this morning has been contained, as announced by the prefect of the Haute Vienne department, Maurice Barate, quoted by the television broadcaster Lci. However, the roof of the building, which is 143 years old, largely collapsed during the clashes. “It was a wild horde that deliberately set the fire,” Barate said.

A protester died of cardiac arrest

The clashes also caused casualties. A protester who took to the streets yesterday in Paris died of cardiac arrest: the person, whose details were not disclosed, fainted while marching on Boulevard Magenta and died after being rushed to Chateau d'Eau hospital. In Saint-Etienne, in central France, a protester lost his hand to a police grenade. The victim, as confirmed by the prefecture of the Loire department, is said to be a "young adult", in his twenties, who was "seriously injured in one hand" after picking up the grenade with his bare hands.