France is recovering after its worst protests in years saw buildings attacked and set ablaze across the country. More than 1,200 people were arrested in the demonstrations on Saturday, which began with protests from students over the cost of living. However violent fringe groups came out in support of the students, which saw events spiralling out of control.
Whole streets in Paris “have been devastated”, the city’s mayor, Emmanuel Gregoire, said. Meanwhile in Limoges, central France, the town hall was “largely lost” to a fire set by masked protesters, the top regional official told the news agency. Authorities in France are now waiting to see if protests will go into another day.
The protests began last month at schools in the poor northern suburbs of Paris, where anger over teacher absences and shabby facilities quickly morphed into a nationwide movement against inequality, weak public spending and falling standards. We will be following events in France and bringing you any reaction as it comes in.
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