Violent protests in France leave Paris, Lyon and Marseille with extensive damage

Violent protests against the rising cost of living in France on Saturday caused extensive damage in the country’s three largest cities: Paris, Lyon and Marseille.

In Lyon, firefighters responded to a blaze at the city’s tourist office, which suffered a scorched façade and ongoing smoke. Nearby shops were vandalised and looted, while local residents documented the destruction. Groups of young people joined efforts to clean and restore the affected streets.

Paris saw shattered windows and damaged storefronts at the Les Halles shopping centre, the Paris Opera, and major retailers including Nike, Sephora, and Burger King.

In Marseille, cleanup crews washed down Rue Saint-Ferréol, where damaged shops and debris reflected the unrest. The city opened an information point for affected businesses, and municipal police patrolled the area.

Across all three cities, municipal workers, shopkeepers, and volunteers began clearing broken glass and repairing storefronts following the nationwide demonstrations that escalated into riots and looting.