One rioter dead in Paris, 1,200 arrests, 150 police officers injured and a 17-year-old who lost a hand in Saint-Étienne: these are the latest figures from Saturday’s violent demonstrations in France, which were marked by widespread clashes, arson and looting.

According to BFMTV, the rioter died of cardiac arrest after feeling unwell on Boulevard de Magenta, along the march route. Citing a police source, the French broadcaster reported that other rioters carried him to the first-aid station at Château d’Eau, but he died outside the facility. The Paris Police Prefecture said that “a person died following cardiorespiratory arrest”.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced that 1,200 people had been arrested and 150 police officers injured during the riots by the Left and the second and third generation immigrants.

While a 17-year-old was maimed in Saint-Étienne, organisers and the CGT trade union put the number of rioters at 800,000, while France’s Interior Ministry estimated attendance at 550,000.

In Paris, the focal point of the protests, around 110,000 people took part in demonstrations marked by serious clashes between police forces and groups of rioters.

The violence erupted when groups of masked rioters attacked police officers, stormed public buildings and caused extensive damage in various parts of the country.

Serious clashes at Place de la République

Serious unrest broke out in central Paris, particularly around Place de la République, where rioter and police clashed for hours.

Police used tear gas in an attempt to disperse groups of troublemakers. Some rioter, meanwhile, attempted to approach government ministries and the presidential palace. The headquarters of the television network CNews was also attacked.

Most arrests took place in Paris, with minors among those detained.

Limoges town hall set ablaze as masked rioters storm Marseille city hall

One of the most serious incidents was the arson attack on Limoges town hall, where a fire, possibly caused by a petrol bomb, inflicted extensive damage on the historic 19th-century building.

In Marseille, groups of masked rioters stormed the town hall after breaking down the door and spray-painted slogans on the walls. Shops were also looted in the city.

Attacks and damage were reported in other French cities as well.

In Lyon, the tourist office building was engulfed in flames, while commercial premises were also damaged. In Lille, the town hall was vandalised, while in Grenoble, residents had to be evacuated from a building after a fire broke out during the unrest.

17-year-old loses hand after grenade incident in Saint-Étienne

Among the day’s most serious incidents was the injury of a 17-year-old in Saint-Étienne, who lost a hand.

According to reports, the teenager was injured by a police grenade that he allegedly picked up.

Political blame game, with Mélenchon in the firing line

The French prime minister made clear that the government would not be intimidated by the unrest, writing on X that “no one will impose their political agenda through violence”.

In a similar vein, French President Emmanuel Macron pledged that those responsible for the destruction would be prosecuted and punished. He criticised those who “spread chaos, who want nothing more than to attack our institutions while also preventing those who want to demonstrate peacefully”.

The Interior Minister, for his part, accused the Left of inciting violence.