Thousands of rioters swarmed the streets of Paris again on Saturday, launching Molotov cocktails at police officers — while protesters in Lyon burned American and Israeli flags.
According to a report from French newspaper Le Monde, some 320,000 protesters gathered on the outskirts of Paris for a march that was, at the outset, relatively peaceful. Some of the protesters wore Halloween costumes as they marched — and after several weeks of unrest, police were out in force to make sure that things stayed under control.
Plusieurs dizaines de milliers de personnes manifestent à Paris entre la porte de Bagnolet et porte de Charenton.
#31octobre #Paris https://t.co/5h7H56ZBkK
— Luc Auffret (@LucAuffret) October 31, 2026
As protesters reached the end of the march, however, police informed them that they needed to disperse — and they responded by hurling projectiles at the officers. Some of the protesters — who were dressed in all black and wearing masks — used hammers to pry paving stones from the road and threw them at police, while others threw Molotov cocktails. Several police officers were reportedly injured during the clashes.
Des affrontements éclatent porte de Charenton à Paris.
#31octobre #Paris https://t.co/q5MXK6To2V
— Luc Auffret (@LucAuffret) October 31, 2026
Video showed one clash — at Port de Charenton in Paris — that left police officers scrambling to put out the fires after a Molotov cocktail exploded in their midst.
Plusieurs cocktails molotov jetés contre les forces de l’ordre à Paris.
Situation très tendue porte de Charenton.
#31octobre #Paris https://t.co/G32fnaDICG
— Luc Auffret (@LucAuffret) October 31, 2026
Protesters also set vehicles ablaze on the streets of Paris.
Un véhicule incendié à Paris.
Les manifestants partent en cortège spontanée à la suite de la dispersion.
#31octobre #Paris https://t.co/SVAMWluXum
— Luc Auffret (@LucAuffret) October 31, 2026
Police continued to work into the evening to disperse the protests.
Les forces de l’ordre dispersent les manifestants toujours rassemblés dans les rues de Paris.
#31octobre #Paris https://t.co/FU98g0py5V
— Luc Auffret (@LucAuffret) October 31, 2026
Protesters in Lyon, according to a report from The New York Post, burned American and Israeli flags in addition to hurling projectiles at police.
France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez had issued a warning ahead of Saturday’s demonstrations, prompting many cities to keep protesters away from city centers and impose curfews. Authorities said that even after protesters attempted to breach security and get into the city centers, they were able to stop them and thus prevent looting in Bordeaux, Lille, Marseille and Lyon. Security forces in Toulouse used water cannons to control the rioters.
“We are fully prepared for those looking for confrontation tonight,” Nuñez warned the protesters, and he announced that the officer whose clothing had caught fire when the Molotov cocktail exploded had only suffered minor injuries and was expected to recover. Nuñez also warned those looking to hit the streets after dark that masks would not be permitted.
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