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French town hall surviving two world wars destroyed in protests
Published : Sunday, 18 October, 2026 at 11:17 AM
Observer Online Report
Collected Photo
A historic town hall in France, which survived both world wars, was extensively damaged and gutted by fire during nationwide protests and violence over rising living costs.
Masked demonstrators set fire to the historical building in the city of Limoges, destroying a major portion of the structure.
Clashes erupted on Saturday (October 17) during rallies organized in Paris and other cities to protest the soaring cost of living, quickly escalating into widespread vandalism, looting, and arson.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced late Saturday that 1,200 people were arrested and 150 police officers were injured during the violence.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, around 550,000 people joined the demonstrations. Meanwhile, the CGT trade union claimed that the number of participants reached 800,000.
Police deployed tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowds, while protesters hurled objects and fireworks at law enforcement. In the southern city of Saint-Étienne, a 17-year-old boy lost his right hand when a riot control grenade exploded.
Groups of youths roamed the streets during and after the protests, clashing with police while vandalizing, looting, and setting fire to various shops.
Supermarkets, pharmacies, luxury stores, clothing showrooms, opticians, and electronics shops were ransacked in Paris, Marseille, Nice, Nantes, Bordeaux, Limoges, Lille, Toulouse, and Strasbourg.
AFP reporters in Paris witnessed organized groups of masked individuals attacking shops. Members of these groups first disconnected security cameras before smashing windows and looting merchandise.
Municipal buildings in several cities also became targets. Masked attackers broke into the historic Limoges town hall and set it on fire, causing extensive damage, according to regional authorities. Two other municipal buildings in Marseille and Lille were also vandalized.
Demonstrators smashed a police facility in Bordeaux and set fire to a tourist office in Lyon.
Inflation remains a key driver of the unrest, with Middle East conflicts exacerbating inflation across Europe and driving up living expenses for ordinary citizens.
Thousands participated in a major march across eastern and northern Paris, chanting slogans such as "Everyone hates the police" and "Macron, resign."
-SA
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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
