France’s Second Protest Wave: 1,000 Arrested as Peaceful Marches Turn Violent
On October 24, 2026, France experienced a second major wave of demonstrations. While initial marches were largely peaceful, evening clashes in Paris, Marseille, and other cities led to nearly 1,000 arrests. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez reported the figures, noting that police deployed 70,000 officers to prevent a repeat of the previous week's severe looting. Protests, driven by high living costs and education funding, spread to Italy, Belgium, and Albania.