Rioters Attack Police Station in Central Paris, Says City Mayor

Protesters clashed with police across France on Saturday. In Paris, rioters even targeted a police station, forcing officers to defend it instead of patrolling the streets.

Police Forced to Defend Their Own Station

Rioters in Paris attacked a police station located in the city’s central districts. Officers had no choice but to defend the building itself. Ariel Weil, mayor of the central districts, confirmed the incident.

“Part of the law enforcement forces in central Paris were forced to defend a police station,” Weil said on BFMTV.

Officers Stretched Thin Across the City

Weil explained that this unexpected duty weakened police coverage elsewhere in central Paris. Commanders struggled to manage their limited resources.

“The commissioner found it difficult to deploy personnel in every direction, because he also had to ensure protection of the police station itself,” Weil noted.

Fast-Moving Mobs Kept Changing Tactics

The mayor also pointed out that the situation shifted rapidly throughout the day. Rioters did not stay in one place for long.

“There was a lot of rioting, a lot of rapid attacks, with attackers acting in small, highly mobile groups,” Weil summed up.

Nationwide Protests Turn Violent

On Saturday, large scale protests swept across France over the rising cost of living and climbing prices. The demonstrations quickly turned violent in several cities.

Protesters clashed fiercely with police. Riots, looting and vandalism broke out in multiple locations. Radical young demonstrators smashed shop windows and torched bus stops and cars. Police responded with tear gas, stun grenades and water cannons to push back the crowds.

City Halls Set Ablaze in Several Cities

During the unrest, radical groups broke into city hall buildings in Limoges, Marseille and Lille. In Limoges, rioters set fire to the ground floor of the city hall. The flames then spread up to the roof. In Lyon, a tourist office was looted and set on fire.

Hundreds Detained as Protests Swell

France’s Interior Minister gave preliminary figures on the unrest. Around 400 people were detained nationwide during the riots. In total, roughly 550,000 people joined demonstrations across France. Of these, about 110,000 protesters gathered in Paris alone.