Fires, Looting And Police Clashes: Why Is France Rioting Now?

At least 400 people were arrested in France on 17 Oct 2026 as protests over education standards and the rising cost of living escalated into clashes with police, fires and looting across several cities.

The demonstrations began in Sep at Lycée Saint-Exupéry in Créteil, near Paris, where teachers and staff went on strike over vacant teaching positions and a lack of resources.

Students soon joined the movement, citing overcrowded classrooms, poorly maintained facilities and teachers who were absent for weeks without replacements.

The movement subsequently broadened to include frustration over the rising cost of living, particularly fuel prices, as well as concerns about wages, pensions and declining public services.

Economic inequality and dissatisfaction with government policies also contributed to the unrest.

Some protesters accused the government of favouring the wealthy while ordinary people faced mounting financial pressures.

Anger over police tactics further heightened tensions. Rights groups, trade unions and students criticised what they described as excessive force against demonstrators.

The protests have been described as some of France's worst unrest in years.

The government blamed the violence on far-left groups and criminals, with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu vowing that it would not be "intimidated" by the unrest.