France protests live: Demonstrator reportedly loses fingers in violent clashes

France protests live: Demonstrator reportedly loses fingers in violent clashes The Louvre, the Orsay and Picasso museums are closed, with a partial night curfew also in place across different parts of Paris A demonstrator has reportedly lost fingers in violent clashes with police as protests continue across France following a weekend of significant disorder that ravaged the country. Around 70,000 officers have been deployed across France to prevent a repeat of last weekend's unrest. So far, today's protests appear less severe, with around 35,000 demonstrators compared with 60,000 at the same time last week. More than 2,700 arrests were made following last week's looting, with curfews now imposed across Paris. The widespread disorder was sparked by anger over the cost of living crisis and poor school conditions. Scenes of looting, burned-out cars and attacks on public buildings stunned the world as masked groups targeted businesses in Paris and other city centres. Helicopters, armoured vehicles and water cannons have also been deployed alongside the 70,000 officers. A partial night curfew covering parts of Paris, including the historic Place de la République, remains in place until Monday. The Culture Ministry has also announced the closure of the Louvre, Orsay and Picasso museums, as well as the Grand Palais. Key Events Major Parisian attractions and events cancelled amid threat of unrest French police have been guarding major national monuments in Paris, standing guard beneath the Arc de Triomphe as shopkeepers boarded up storefronts across Paris. Near the Saint-Lazare train station Saturday, Akram Ahmed, a 34-year-old contractor, was boarding up an optician’s shop. “I got the call last night,” he said. “The owner seemed desperate. He said I was saving his life.” Art Basel, one of the world’s most prestigious contemporary art fairs, opened to the public Friday, but only for the day, with the threat of unrest prompting organizers to cancel the weekend program. Far-right clash with demonstrators in Nice In Nice, far-right extremists fought with demonstrators downtown and 11 people were arrested, regional authorities said, just one battleground of many across France on Saturday. Violence erupted in multiple French cities as dusk fell earlier today, as 289 protests were recorded nationwide. Police used tear gas in Lyon, Clermont-Ferrand, Strasbourg and Bordeaux and water cannons in Nice and Nantes, French media reported. The unrest is directly challenging President Macron's authority in his final months as president. He will leave office in May amid a high stakes battle. On one side, the far-right National Rally party, which has accused his government of failing to protect the public and urged people to channel their anger into votes for its candidate Marine Le Pen. On the far left, presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon has backed demonstrators and criticized policing that has left some teenage protesters with life-changing injuries. What we know so far on French riots with nearly 1,000 arrests Clashes erupted in Paris as a mass march drew to a close Saturday, with more than 400,000 people rallying across France and nearly 1,000 arrests. Protesters have taken to the streets over school funding and soaring living costs in a fresh challenge to President Emmanuel Macron. The Paris march began peacefully but near the demonstration’s endpoint in the east of the city, masked protesters hurled objects and fireworks at police, who answered with clouds of tear gas, deafening sound grenades and jets of water cannons. Officers with megaphones urged protesters to disperse. Some demonstrators panicked as tear-gas canisters landed in their midst, scattering with screams. The Interior Ministry put nationwide turnout at 410,000 — fewer than the 550,000 it said protested last weekend — while the CGT union that helped organize some of Saturday’s protests estimated nearly 800,000. The ministry’s estimate included 110,000 in Paris, where authorities confined the march to the city’s southeastern edge, away from the centre. The CGT put the number of protesters in Paris at 250,000. Police arrest 51 people in Marseille over rioting Police have now said that 51 people have been arrested in Marseille following rioting. Several shops and businesses have been looted or vandalised in the city A police statement read: "The prefect strongly condemns the actions of a few individuals who, at the end of the demonstration, engaged in vandalism and looting. These acts are unacceptable and cannot overshadow the conduct of the authorized march." Horror footage shows rioters firing on police in Marseille Footage shows riot police being fired at by protesters in Marseille. Looting in the 5th arrondissement has also been reported with two jewellry stores among five shops targeted. There are also understood to have been 18 people arrested so far. Protests see 96 people arrested in Rome Protests in Italy have seen 96 people arrested in Rome, as people take to the streets across Europe. There have been clashes with police across the country with tensions running high especially in Turin, Bologna and Florence as well as Rome.where protesters entered the Colosseum. At the Largo Santa Susanna square in Rome, protesters fought with police throwing tables, fireworks and eggs. They were driven back with water hoses. Meanwhile, the mastermind behind the "Movimento 17 ottobre" Instagram page has been identified and is under investigation for aggravated incitement to crime. It was set up following the protests in Italy last week over the rising cost of living. 'Nearly 1,000 arrests' in rioting across France says Interior Minister France's Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez says that there have been "nearly 1,000 arrests" by 7.30pm today and "this number will increase". It follows another day of rioting where it is estimated that around 410,000 people have hit the streets to protest against social issues including the rising cost of living in France. Nunez added that the looting which took place last week and the setting fire to public buildings had been largely avoided. He stated: "As we anticipated, there were some concerning groups forming. They acted according to a fairly classic pattern where they broke away and tried to commit acts of violence. They were prevented from reaching the city centres." More than 60 people arrested in violent scenes in Nice Violent clashes have led to 61 people being arrested in Nice, according to police. Footage shows fighting appearing to involve different groups of protesters with police intervening. "Far right groups have been moved away from the Old Nice area and some protesters are being dispersed on the beach at Quai d'Amérique ," reportedly said a police source. Police stop car dealership break-in amid Paris rioting Police in Paris say that rioters attempted to break into a car dealership in the Cour de Vincennes. Along with the statement on X it also showed footage of police breaking up crowds that had gathered. It said: "Towards the end of the protest route, at Vincennes Court, vandals attempted to break into a car dealership. The swift intervention of law enforcement prevented them from doing so and secured the business." Protester suffers 'serious hand injury' in clashes with police in Toulouse A protester has reportedly lost fingers after suffering a serious hand injury in clashes with police in Toulouse. Police stated: "During the dispersal of a crowd, a person was treated by emergency services for a serious hand injury. "The circumstances of this injury are not yet known. An investigation will be conducted, under the responsibility of the judicial authorities, to shed light on this incident." A medic told Le Figaro that "several fingers torn off" following the explosion of a device with the details unclear. Police were using stun grenades and tear gas in the Arènes district. Riots in Paris as more than 100,000 protesters descend on French capital Protesters have been clashing with police in Paris using tear gas and water cannons, as around 100,000 people have taken to the streets. Police say the situation is mainly "calm" with anti-Macron protesters but there have been pockets of violence. “For the moment, the situation is pretty much under control, apart from some attempts to block the peripherique, which we stopped,” reportedly said Olivier Bourde, the Paris police force’s deputy director for public order. Many protesters are leaving the Cours de Vincennes in Paris via the Rue du Général Niessel due to presence of the riot police. Protesters have set fire to the City Hall in Tirana as Albanian riots escalate Anti-government protests have escalated in Tirana, Albania, where opposition supporters and students have clashed with riot police. Hundreds of people marched on the main entrance of the Tirana City Hall and set it on fire. Flames and smoke have engulfed the interior of the building, spreading the fire further inside the first floor. Paris march a 'total victory' claims far left party leader A march by far-left party France Insoumise through Paris has been called as a “total victory for the social movement” by its leader as he blasted the authorities. Jean-Luc Mélenchon said: "Total victory for the social movement. The march gathered at the new authorized point and is now flowing calmly over more than four kilometres. "The provocations for disorder by the Paris police prefect and Lecornu are a total failure. For the authorities, it is time to give in, or soon they will have only the exit door left." Footage showed thousands marching despite a last-minute order by authorities changing the route. Melenchon is supporting the demands for more investment in schools. Police use tear gas on protesters in Lyon Clashes are taking place between police and protestors in Lyon. Marches are being held in several parts of the city including Cours Gambetta and around the Rectorate. Police have used tear gas to disperse protesters wearing masks, with some picking up tear gas grenades and throwing them back at officers. The clashes have included around the Place Jean Macé, near Lyon university. National Rally starts congress in Orleans as Le Pen seeks presidency France’s far right National Rally is holdings its congress in Orleans where it is starting its 2027 presidential campaign. It leaders Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella have spoken out about the problems in the country and the current disorder. The RN is currently polling as the frontrunner in next April's election and a recent poll found that Le Pen's popularity had been given a further boost following the rioting and looting. Thousands turned up in the city for an anti-racism protest today as well, countering the congress. Tear gas and water cannons deployed Police in Nantes, a city in western France, have deployedtear gas and water cannons after protesters attempted to breach a prohibited permeter. A statement from the prefect of Pays de la Loire et de Loire-Atlantique reads: "In Nantes, individuals attempted to breach the prohibited perimeter for undeclared gatherings. "Law enforcement used tear gas and water cannons after issuing prior warnings. Follow the instructions from authorities on site." Tear gas has also been used on protesters in Lyon this morning, as well as in Clermont-Fernand, a city in central France. 'We do this because we love our country' The Mirror's Simon Murphy is in Paris this afternoon and reports... Protesters gathered at Place d’Italie in Paris on Saturday afternoon. Art student Mel, 19, carried a banner reading “you are more shocked by ink on the wall than blood on the floor”. It is a reference to how she feels the protesting has been conveyed. She told the Mirror: “I’m here because the state of France lately is so bad.” In reference to the government, police and far right, she explained: “I’m here today but I’m scared because they’re getting more violent every day.” The teenager added: “It’s really terrifying to see my country like that. “I’m proud to be French and the far right is trying to make it seem like people who are manifesting are not… “But we don’t hate France, we do this because we love our country, we are proud of who we are. “And, today, that’s why we’re here because I’m proud of who I am and I don’t want to leave my country in a way that I’ll be ashamed in the future.” She said the cost of living was “getting bad”, explaining: “Personally, I’m part of the lucky ones because I live with my family but I know friends who struggle every month to pay rent.” Her friend, engineering student Leo, 18, said: “I think it’s really important to show that we are still going to protest, we are still going to go on the streets.” The teenager added: “I think it’s important that we can protest. It’s one of our rights.” Meanwhile, student Soline Malacarne said: “Students are mobilised for bad studying conditions.” The 23-year-old, who also referenced the high cost of living, said direct democracy was “the best way to get heard”. She added: “I hope they will listen to the people.” Presidential elections candidate spotted among protesters in Paris Jean-Luc Melenchon, candidate in France's 2027 presidential elections, has been spotted among those protesting in Paris this afternoon. Melenchon is a candidate from the French leftist party La France Insoumise (LFI). He was seen marching with LFI MP Aurelie Trouve and LFI MP Manuel Bompard. In pictures: Paris demonstrations Prohibited items seized Prohibited items have been seized by police officers following 635 checks carried out today. Several arrests have also been made, Paris police have said, adding: "We will be uncompromising." Among the seized items, pictures released by the police show a hand-held circular saw, face coverings and balaclavas, goggles, masks and extendable poles. The police said: "The Paris police is organizing massive checks, particularly in train stations and public transport, to deter those who might come to the capital with bad intentions. "Following 635 checks, numerous prohibited items have been seized and several arrests have been made. We will be uncompromising. At this hour, the situation is calm in Paris." 'All is calm' in Paris In their latest update, Paris police have said that "all is calm" so far on the city's streets. The statement reads: "All is calm in the streets of Paris, the Paris police setup is in place, on the ground and in the air, in order to allow the demonstrators to march safely from the Porte d’Italie to the Porte de Vincennes via the boulevards des Maréchaux." The route was imposed so that the demonstration takes place safely, the police said, with all those who wish to participate in the protests invited to join the route.