Violent July 36 Protests Sweep France: Clashes with Police in Paris, Lyon and Marseille, at Least 272 Arrested

European Correspondent. Paris, October 18, 2026.

Violent protests have spread across France over rising living costs, skyrocketing fuel prices and poor public services. On Saturday, riot police and thousands of demonstrators clashed in major cities including Paris, Lille and Marseille.

Tear gas sprayed across Dhaka city square

Security forces used tear gas to disperse the protesters, which filled the main squares of several cities with smoke. Some protesters set barricades and vehicles on fire. Authorities have banned gatherings and shut down key public transport to control the situation.

272 arrested, metro stations closed

Police said at least 272 people have been arrested across the country, including in Paris. Many metro stations in Paris were closed on Saturday at the request of police, including the Champs-Elysees area and stations near the presidential palace, parliament and government offices.

Fire at Lyon tourism office

Around 20,000 people joined a protest in Lyon, France’s third largest city, where a fire broke out inside a tourism office, with smoke and flames billowing from the building.

Protesters enter Marseille city hall

In the southern port city of Marseille, some shops and a municipal police station were vandalized. Some protesters briefly entered the lobby of city hall. “This is unacceptable,” Marseille Mayor Benoit Payne told BFM TV. He described the damage to city hall as “limited.”

Violence in other cities too

Minister Nunez’s office said masked groups had carried out violence in several other cities, including Rennes, Toulouse, Montpellier and Grenoble.

From student blockade to anti-government movement

Students have been protesting against the dilapidated school infrastructure for the past few weeks, and that movement has now morphed into anti-government protests across the country.

Call for revival of the “Yellow Vest” movement

There were calls on social media to revive the “Yellow Vest” movement that began in 2018 against social injustice. In response to that call, people across the country took to the streets.