🔴 Live: Chaotic scenes as organisers of French protests claim 800,000 have taken to streets

A protester's hand was blown off by a police crowd-control grenade on Saturday as the nationwide demonstrations against the higher cost of living and school conditions turned violent. According to France’s biggest trade union, the CGT, some 800,000 people are taking part in the protests. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates. Limoges town hall on fire The town hall in Limoges, in central France, has been set on fire. Paris mayor says ‘entire streets ravaged’ in protests Paris’s Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire said “extensive damage” has been done to the city. “Entire streets have been ravaged.” Organisers estimate that around 800,000 people have taken part in today’s protests across France. 'Extensive use of tear gas' at Paris rallies French police have made "an extensive use of tear gas" during the protests in Paris, FRANCE 24’s Antonia Kerrigan said, adding that she had seen at least two fires while reporting from the demonstrations. Watch her full report here: Protesters ‘ransack’ Bordeaux prefect’s residence, officials say French PM blames violence during protests on the ultra-left French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is blaming the violence that has erupted during the protests on the ultra-left. “Today, ultra-left groups orchestrated violence in several French cities, while criminals joined in to loot and destroy property,” he wrote in a post on X. “To those who clearly want to use these acts of violence as a "warm-up" ahead of the presidential election, let me be clear: we will not be intimidated. No one will impose their political agenda through violence.” Dozens of shops looted in Marseille Dozens of shops have been looted in Marseille on the sidelines of the protest, AFP reported. According to the news agency, several businesses – from food shops to luxury goods stores – have been attacked. Marseille's naval firefighters said they had been called to a sports shoe shop after a fire broke out inside. Paris mayor condemns vandalism during protests Paris’s Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire has condemned the vandalism that has plagued the protests in the city, saying the “vast majority” of the demonstrators are “marching peacefully”. 📸 Paris march in pictures "Sick government, sick society," the sign says. "Macron big bastard," the banner says. "How to follow classes with one less eye?" the signs says, referring to police brutality. Photos: Pauline Rouqette, FRANCE 24 Union says 500,000 turn out across France for cost-of-living protests France’s biggest trade union, CGT, said more than 500,000 people have joined the nationwide protests. Protester has hand blown off by police grenade in Saint-Étienne A French protester has had their hand blown off by a police crowd-control grenade, a police source told AFP. ‘France has equality problems,’ ‘and ‘politicians lie’, protesters say “For years we’ve had climate, economy and equality problems but the government is not doing anything about it,” said Agnes, a 50-year-old actor who did not give her second name, as she marched in Paris. High school student Kamil Alahyan, 18, said he was protesting “for so many reasons—the elections coming up in 2027, politicians who lie, the ultra-rich who’ve been taking more and more wealth over the past 10 years”. 📸 In pictures: Protesters break into Lille town hall Masked protesters stand in front of Lille’s town hall. The protesters smashed the glass doors as they forced their way in. Photo: AFP According to AFP, the protesters were removed from the town hall within a few minutes, but they still had time to do some damage. Photo: AFP 📸 Protesters clash with police in Lille Masked protesters set up makeshift barricades in Lille. A standoff in Lille between young, masked protesters and helmeted police officers. Photos: AFP Protesters clash with police in Brussels Several hundred mostly young people are also protesting in Brussels, where rioters have clashed with police in unrest partly inspired by the demonstrations in neighbouring France. Belgian student groups have said they are protesting against rising education costs and reforms they fear will make higher education less accessible. Many of the demonstrators are wearing masks and chanting anti-fascist slogans. Police is using tear gas and water cannon, while some protesters have overturned a car, according to a Reuters witness. Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin said in a post on X that “what is unfolding in Brussels is no longer mere protest” and “all necessary means will be used to restore order in the face of the rioters”. Protesters in Lille force their way into town hall Protesters have forced their way into the town hall of France’s northern city of Lille and vandalised the premises before leaving, an AFP photographer said. Riot police within minutes confirmed that all the protesters had left. The violent intrusion came hours after protesters in the southern city of Marseille rammed their way into the town hall there before being forced out by police. Number of arrests near 300 At least 272 people had been arrested across France by mid-afternoon, the Interior Ministry said. Marine Le Pen accuses far-left of legitimising violence Far-right politician Marine Le Pen has also taken to social media, accusing the far left of legitimising violence and holding the demonstrators’ demands “hostage”. “Legitimate social demands have once again been held hostage by the far left and the speeches of Jean-Luc Mélenchon's deputies, who, by legitimising violence, viewing order as oppression and disorder as a right, seek to plunge the country into chaos.”