Protests in France leave Limoges city hall practically destroyed

Protests against the rising cost of living spread across France on Saturday, resulting in fires, looting and attacks on public buildings. In Limoges, masked demonstrators set a police vehicle on fire outside the city hall, broke windows and entered the building to start a blaze.

The fire reached a wing and the roof of the 143-year-old municipal headquarters as firefighters tried to stop it from spreading throughout the building. Social media images showed part of the historic dome collapsing.

The local prefect, Maurice Barate, said the city hall was practically destroyed, with the roof collapsed over the lower floors except in the west wing and two thirds of the facade gone. He described the damage as a catastrophe for heritage and a deliberate act of vandals.

Interior Minister Laurent Núñez reported 400 arrests nationwide and said the vast majority of those detained were adults. President Emmanuel Macron promised punishment for those responsible.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu chaired an evening crisis cell with several ministries to respond to incidents in various cities. Public buildings and shops were attacked, leading to reinforced police operations.

Other buildings damaged included city halls in Marseille and Lille, a tourism office in Lyon, a university building facade in Rouen and the prefect's residence in Bordeaux. Paris streets were also systematically devastated, according to Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire.