1,200 people were arrested and 150 police officers were injured during violent protests across France on October 17, authorities said. Fires, looting and damage to public buildings broke out as police moved in. In Paris, cars were set ablaze and shops were ransacked, while officers fired tear gas shells and used water cannons to disperse crowds. Clashes continued into the evening around Place de la République. Demonstrators threw fireworks, paving stones and other objects at police, while vehicles and rubbish bins were set on fire and thick black smoke rose over the streets. Police also used batons against some protesters, and several shops were looted. Across the country, unrest hit multiple cities. In Lyon, a fire broke out at the tourist office. In Limoges, a large fire at the town hall caused part of its roof to collapse. In Marseille, protesters damaged a municipal police station and briefly entered City Hall. The interior ministry reported violence by masked groups in Rennes, Toulouse, Montpellier and Grenoble, with damage to buildings also reported in Avignon, Pau and Valence. In Paris, clothes and food shops were raided, and an Apple store in Lille was broken into and emptied. The protests were sparked by anger among high school students over staff shortages and deteriorating facilities. Student groups had organised school blockades since mid-September, with unions and other groups joining their campaign. The CGT backed Saturday’s demonstrations, calling for higher wages and pensions, lower prices, and better protection for public services. President Emmanuel Macron said people responsible for attacks on public buildings and businesses would face prosecution, including those who looted town halls and attacked prefectures and businesses. Police reported that a type of stun grenade was suspended after a 15-year-old lost a hand. In Saint-Étienne, the mayor said a young man had his hand blown off by a grenade. As of the latest report, the unrest and investigations into those attacks were continuing, with arrests already made.