Local curfews may come into force in French towns following a weekend of disorder. Most of the protesters were peaceful in expressing their opposition to rising fuel prices, the cost of living, and deteriorating public services, including schools. However, others—dressed in black and wearing masks and balaclavas—set fire to cars, shops, and buildings.
Extensive Damage in Paris
The scale of the destruction, including to some iconic landmarks, has shocked many in a country accustomed to street protests. The damage in the capital city is extensive:
- Shop fronts have been broken and stores looted.
- Kiosks, vehicles, and buildings were set alight and destroyed near some of the city's most recognizable areas, including Place De La Republique.
Front doors and windows were broken down as looting broke out in several cities. Some groups erected barricades on the Champs-Elysees in Paris. The iconic Place de la Republique was vandalized, with a yellow vest—representative of the movement that helped coordinate the weekend protests—draped around the body of the Statue of the Republic, erected in 1883.
Riots and Police Response
Groups of rioters took over parts of the capital and wreaked havoc. Tear gas and stun grenades were fired at hundreds of people, but police struggled to contain smaller groups roaming around the city attacking businesses. The full extent of the damage did not become clear until dawn broke on Sunday.
