Over 2,000 arrested during protests across France

More than 2,000 people have been arrested and over 600 police officers, gendarmes and firefighters injured during violent protests across France on Saturday, French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on Sunday, citing provisional figures.

In a post on social media platform X, Nunez said that protests in some cities continued late into Saturday night, adding that investigations were underway to identify the perpetrators of the violent acts and bring them to justice.

Material damage was considerable, affecting several hundred businesses, he said. While demonstrating is a fundamental right, he stressed, causing disorder through coordinated violence is not.

Police in Paris said on Sunday that they had detained 855 people in connection with protest-related violence in the capital.

Police said the number was a "record figure," as Deputy Mayor Lamia El Aaraje said Paris had been hit by "a level of violence that I believe we had never seen before."

About 550,000 people had taken part in demonstrations nationwide,  Nunez told French broadcaster BFMTV earlier on Saturday.

The demonstrations brought together farmers, climate activists, trade unions and students, according to French media reports. Protesters voiced grievances over fuel prices, the cost of living, education and public services.

Nunez reported attacks on public buildings, police stations and businesses during the demonstrations, including intrusions or attempted intrusions at city halls in Marseille, Lille, Calais and Angers, as well as incidents at prefectures, notably in Bordeaux. He also said opportunistic offenders had taken advantage of the protests to loot shops in several cities.

The unrest also disrupted public transport and cultural activities. Paris public transport operator RATP announced that services on more than 10 metro lines had been temporarily suspended, with several stations closed. The Louvre Museum limited the number of visitors on Saturday, while the Orangerie Museum admitted only visitors with reservations.

Historic town hall devastated by fire in Limoges

Among the most serious incidents was a fire at the town hall in the southwestern French city of Limoges, which was deliberately set during Saturday's unrest.

The fire, which devastated much of the 143-year-old building, was contained by Sunday, local authorities said.

Maurice Barate, prefect of the Haute-Vienne department, told TV news channel LCI that "a wild horde" had deliberately set fire to the building.

"The roof has collapsed onto lower floors, except the west wing, and two-thirds of the exterior has already disappeared," Barate told AFP, describing the damage as a "catastrophe for heritage" and a "deliberate act by hooligans."

According to witnesses, a group of masked protesters first set fire to a police car outside the town hall before breaking windows and entering the building to start a blaze. Firefighters were deployed late Saturday to contain the fire.

Several shops in central Limoges were also looted. As hundreds of people watched the building burn, a municipal employee was seen in tears being comforted by a local councillor.

Macron vows punishment for perpetrators

Amid mounting unrest and growing concerns over public security, French political leaders criticized the violence and reaffirmed their support for law enforcement officers, while stressing the need to protect the public's right to peaceful protest.

French President Emmanuel Macron vowed on Saturday to punish those responsible for vandalism, attacks on public property and looting during the protests.

"Those who carried out vandalism, attacked administrative offices or businesses, or carried out looting – even in our town halls – will be prosecuted and punished," he said on X.

Macron also voiced support for law enforcement officers, saying France would stand united against those who "sow chaos" and prevent others from peacefully expressing their grievances.

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu visited officers deployed in central Paris following a day of clashes and looting on Saturday.

"I want to tell the French people that they can be proud of their police officers and gendarmes. They have faced violence of extreme intensity to protect our fellow citizens, and they deserve all our support," he said in a post on X.

Violent clashes erupt during protests in northern Italy

The unrest in France was part of a broader wave of demonstrations over the rising cost of living, with protests also taking place in other European countries. In neighboring Italy, demonstrations turned violent in several northern cities on Saturday, including Milan, Bologna and Turin, leaving dozens of people injured, according to Italian media reports.

In Milan, hundreds of young people dressed in black gathered around Piazza del Duomo in the city center, throwing firecrackers and bottles at police. At least four police officers and 20 protesters were injured in the clashes, while about 50 demonstrators were detained, Italian news agency ANSA reported.

In Bologna, police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse crowds. Four minors were arrested, and 36 law enforcement officers were injured or sustained bruises in the clashes, ANSA reported, citing a police update.

In Turin, police detained 12 people, including 10 minors, following clashes with protesters, local media reported.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the violence in a social media post on Saturday evening, saying: "Demonstrating is a right. Setting our cities ablaze is not."

(With input from agencies)