The police were"completely overwhelmed"by a level of violence"rarely experienced"during the mobilization of October 17, according to the Unsa-Police union, after scenes of chaos and looting that occurred on the sidelines of the social mobilization.
The day was marked by direct clashes with rioters, broken windows, looted stores and burned cars. Between 550,000 and 800,000 demonstrators marched throughout France, while 1,200 people were arrested, according to the Prime Minister who deplores"unacceptable levels of violence".
In certain cities, the mobilization transformed into scenes of chaos, with in particular the town hall of Limoges destroyed by a violent fire and the sky of Paris blackened by the fires. In Saint-Étienne, the hand of a 17-year-old demonstrator was torn off by a grenade.