France Protests Draw Hundreds of Thousands as Police Deploy Water Cannon

Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News

World

Demonstrations over school conditions and the rising cost of living brought hundreds of thousands of people onto the streets across France on Saturday, while clashes between some protesters and police led to the use of tear gas and water cannon.

Paris pic.twitter.com/yS3ZC18pYo

— Marcel (@realmarcel1)

October 24, 2026

France’s Interior Ministry estimated that about 410,000 people took part nationwide, including roughly 110,000 in Paris. The CGT labor union gave a substantially higher estimate, saying 800,000 people demonstrated across the country and 250,000 in the capital. The figures differ because authorities and organizers use separate methods to estimate crowd sizes.

The situation in France is not very good. pic.twitter.com/MLsSIBrZWy

— Sprinter Press (@Sprinter_Press)

October 24, 2026

The protests brought together students, workers, trade union members and people associated with the Yellow Vest movement. Their grievances include teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms, deteriorating school buildings and high living costs. Rising fuel prices have also added to public discontent. Demonstrations initially focused on education have broadened into a wider expression of frustration with economic pressures and government policy.

BREAKING: Police charge protesters with baton blows in Paris, France, the protest is turning violent. pic.twitter.com/U4T8KOwWrz

— World Source News (@Worldsource24)

October 24, 2026

In Paris, police directed marchers along a route on the southeastern edge of the city, away from central areas. The main march was described as largely peaceful before a smaller group remained near its endpoint and confronted police. Officers used tear gas and water cannon as clashes unfolded. Reports from the scene described protesters lighting flares and police using stun grenades. Authorities said a group attempted to break into a car dealership but was stopped by law enforcement.

Lyon : rue d'Anvers, un feu de conteneurs lèche la façade d'un immeuble. Les pompiers peinent à passer, une riveraine demande qu'on leur laisse la voie. "Nous on est des jeunes, on s'en bat les couilles" lui répondent les casseurs. #manifestations #24octobre #24octobre2026… pic.twitter.com/9mXJLSWj8k

— actu Lyon (@actufr_lyon)

October 24, 2026

The Interior Ministry reported 135 arrests nationwide by midday, as protests continued. Police had estimated that about 35,000 people had gathered by that point, a lower turnout than at the same time the previous Saturday. Those figures were preliminary; the nationwide crowd estimate was reported separately.

Riot police in Marseille, France, were forced to pull back after rioting erupted in the city. pic.twitter.com/N1NeLoqJ9A

— Open Source Intel (@Osint613)

October 24, 2026

The government assigned about 70,000 police officers and gendarmes to the security operation, supported by specialist units, helicopters, armored vehicles and water cannon. Authorities sought to prevent a repeat of looting, fires and attacks on public buildings reported during the previous weekend’s unrest. Some local authorities imposed curfews or restrictions on demonstrations, while Paris’s march was limited to a route away from the city center.

Police also used tear gas in other French cities, including Lyon, Lille, Toulouse and Nantes, according to reports on Saturday’s demonstrations. The deployments underscored the challenge facing authorities: allowing large public marches while trying to contain disorder and protect people, businesses and public property.

Images impressionnantes de la manifestation à Paris.#24octobre #24octobre2026 #Paris #France pic.twitter.com/VwGhEm48xO

— Luc Auffret (@LucAuffret)

October 24, 2026

The movement’s education-related demands reflect concerns raised by students and teachers, including unfilled teaching positions, large classes, long school schedules and facilities in poor condition. Students have also expressed concerns about Parcoursup, France’s university admissions platform. These issues sit alongside wider complaints about rents, fuel costs, inflation and employment prospects.

The protests have unfolded amid debate over public spending and the government’s budget plans. As demonstrations broadened, unions and student groups joined a larger mobilization, while the government faced pressure to address demands for better school conditions and living standards. Saturday’s turnout showed the scale of public discontent, although the gap between the official and union estimates means the precise size of the crowds remains disputed.

BREAKING:

The looting has started in France again.

Several stores have been looted in Grenoble in the past hours pic.twitter.com/sSLabamxns

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24)

October 24, 2026

Demonstrations also took place in several other European countries. Saturday’s reports described protests and police responses in Albania and Belgium, while preparations were under way for a march in Italy. The circumstances and demands vary by country, so the protests should not be treated as a single coordinated movement.

In France, the immediate question is whether demonstrations can continue without further serious clashes, and how the government will respond to concerns about education and household costs. Saturday’s events combined a substantial, largely peaceful march in Paris with confrontations near its endpoint and police deployments in cities nationwide. The arrest and crowd figures offer an early measure of the day’s scale, but they do not resolve the dispute over participation or indicate whether the demonstrations will lead to policy changes.

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