France's Second Protest Wave: 1,000 Arrested as Peaceful Marches Turn Violent
France faced a second major wave of unrest on October 24, 2026, with nearly 1,000 arrests reported by Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez. While initial marches remained peaceful, clashes erupted in Paris, Marseille, and other cities. The government deployed 70,000 police officers to prevent a repeat of the previous week's severe looting, though some property damage and injuries occurred. Protests, driven by high living costs and education funding, continue ahead of the May presidential election.