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ore than 1,800 people have been arrested in France following widespread unrest, while more than 500 police officers, gendarmes and firefighters were injured. Clashes and vandalism were also reported in Belgium.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said some incidents continued late into the night on 17 October. He thanked emergency personnel for working under difficult conditions and stressed that the right to demonstrate did not justify violence.
According to Nuñez, several thousand far-left activists in multiple cities were intent on attacking public buildings and clashing with law enforcement. He said other offenders subsequently joined them, looting and damaging businesses.
Violence was reported in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Rennes, Strasbourg, Grenoble, Nice, Limoges and other cities. Protesters allegedly attacked security forces, targeted government institutions, damaged public buildings and broke into prefectures and town halls.
“Some 1,800 people have now been arrested, and investigations are ongoing to identify those responsible for these crimes and bring them to justice,” Nuñez said.
More than 500 police officers, gendarmes and firefighters were reportedly injured, although the minister cautioned that the figure could change. Hundreds of business owners also suffered significant property damage.
“The Republic will make no concessions to those seeking to impose disorder and violence,” Nuñez said.
Clashes in Belgium
Unrest also broke out in Belgium. According to the newspaper Le Soir, clashes and acts of vandalism erupted in central Brussels on Saturday afternoon.
The demonstrations spread following confrontations between police and young people on 9 October, amid a trade union protest. Le Soir reported that many participants in Saturday’s unrest were minors, including children under 12.
In the Marolles district, demonstrators damaged property along Boulevard Lemonnier and Avenue de Stalingrad, including smashing windows at the Brussels federation office of the Socialist Party (PS).
Rubbish bags were set on fire, construction equipment was damaged, and a car-sharing vehicle was overturned onto its roof. Police deployed tear gas and operations to disperse the crowds.
A large group later gathered at Place de la Bourse, chanting slogans against the police. Further clashes occurred nearby between 6 pm and 7 pm, prompting officers to use force and tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Another group subsequently formed on Boulevard Anspach and moved towards the Ninove Gate. Rubbish bins were overturned and set alight, while shared bicycles and scooters were left in the middle of the road.
The situation had calmed by around 8 pm, although police continued patrolling the area. Belgian authorities reported approximately 10 arrests in Brussels during the day.
Unrest in Liège
Clashes were also reported in Liège. On Saturday afternoon, around 30 demonstrators were surrounded by helmeted police officers at Place Saint-Lambert.
A fire engine was deployed to spray water on protesters, while people behind the police cordon chanted, “Free our comrades!”
Earlier, a group of demonstrators blocked several roads in the Cadran area, including an entrance to the motorway towards Burenville. Some attempted to move barriers to build barricades, but police arrived before they could complete them and dispersed the crowd.
Police said between 200 and 250 people had gathered peacefully in the Guillemins area at around 10 am. They later marched towards Place Saint-Lambert, where a sit-in blocked bus traffic, before continuing towards Cadran at approximately 1:15 pm.
Background
Protests in France began in September with demonstrations by students and teachers against insufficient education funding. University students, trade unions and supporters of the Yellow Vests movement later joined the protests, also raising concerns about rising prices.
On 17 October, at least 550,000 people took to the streets across France, according to reports. Demonstrations escalated into riots and arson in several cities.
The French government convened a crisis response meeting, while the next nationwide strike was scheduled for 5 November.
