New nationwide protests rock France as buildings looted, burned

French protesters looted luxury stores and vandalized buildings across multiple cities, including Paris, Marseille, Lille, and Nice, turning what started as peaceful demonstrations against rising living costs into widespread violence. The unrest followed weeks of student protests and involved over 550,000 people nationwide. In Paris alone, more than 1,200 were arrested as looters smashed windows, stole goods from luxury boutiques like Hermès and electronics stores such as Apple, and vandalized supermarkets. Notably, the historic Limoges Town Hall, built in 1883 and a symbol of the French Resistance during WWII, was torched by rioters, causing it to collapse. President Emmanuel Macron called for calm and respect ahead of the protests but did not stop the escalating violence that has raised political uncertainty six months before France’s presidential election. The unrest led to significant property damage and mass arrests, reflecting deep public anger over rising costs and social inequalities.