Molotov cocktail attacks injured several officers as nationwide cost-of-living protests descended into violence.
Rioters hurled flaming projectiles at police in Paris as another wave of cost-of-living protests swept across France on Saturday.
Five law enforcement officers were injured, including three by Molotov cocktails, according to police.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez described the attacks as “attempted murder.”
Videos from the scene show a Molotov cocktail being thrown at officers standing in formation with riot shields. One officer catches fire and is quickly engulfed in flames before a colleague uses a fire extinguisher to put out the blaze.
In a separate incident, an incendiary device was thrown at a group of officers during a standoff in the middle of a street, briefly setting one officer’s legs on fire.
Police fired volleys of tear gas and stun grenades as rioters threw bottles and other projectiles.
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
“The burning sensation is immediate, intense and grows stronger over time,” an unnamed gendarme injured by an incendiary device told BFMTV. “I couldn’t see it because you can’t look everywhere at once, and the barrage of projectiles was relentless,” he added.
A Paris police officer’s leg caught fire on Halloween after a device hurled at officers detonated, as protests across France pressed on. https://t.co/Ko5gAee4Ez
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) October 31, 2026
After watching footage of the incident, the gendarme said, “It made me realize that we may have narrowly avoided a catastrophe.”
Around 320,000 people rallied across France on Saturday, including 70,000 in Paris, according to the Interior Ministry. Organizers put the turnout at 500,000 nationwide, including 200,000 in the capital. Police said 565 people were arrested.
Paris authorities imposed a partial overnight curfew from 11 PM to 6 AM in the areas around Place de la Republique, Place du Chatelet and Les Halles on Saturday and Sunday nights.
Although many demonstrations began peacefully, “radical elements” instigated riots in several cities, according to police. Nunez said there had been “calls for people to gather at 8 PM to take advantage of Halloween night, wear masks and engage in looting, vandalism or attacks on public buildings.”
French media also reported incidents of alleged police brutality, with Le Monde describing officers striking apparently non-threatening protesters in Paris and two young men reportedly injured during arrests in Grenoble.
FRENCH COPS FORCED BACK as RIOTERS KEEP HURLING FIREBOMBS https://t.co/qNb1SRuv7k
— RTVisual (@RT_Visual_on_X) October 31, 2026
The protests began in September with high school students demanding better educational facilities, more teachers and increased funding. Separately, trade unions and Yellow Vest activists mobilized against rising living costs and fuel prices. The movements converged on October 17, bringing students, workers and other protesters together in nationwide demonstrations that have since broadened to include demands for civil liberties and an end to police violence.
That’s the risk they take by being employed to defend a tyrant j3w.
Then, the violence is obviously Soros organised, another j3w.
Goys are their pawns.
When politicians treat their constituents with contempt, thats when citizens take back their rights and freedoms. I am completely ok with the French standing up for themselves and using whatever force is needed to remove what appears to be a corrupt regime masquerading as a legitimate governmentt.
The controversy surrounding Macron doesn’t match up with the volume of support he achieved in the last election. Le Pen who stood in the last election, with such overwhelming support, narrowly just missed out. Then there was some minor technicality Le Pen couldn’t be President.
Theyve got too many ‘rights and freedoms’ – that the problem – the people have been spoilt by wimpy Left wing governments who act surprised when the spoilt brats ‘revolt’ . .
Just shoot the f*#kers – rubber bullets, stun grenades, drones spraying caustic soda – french coppers are being too wimpy and Left.
French cops took the eye out of an unarmed, peaceful protester, with high intensity rubber bullets. Wholly unsuited to the environment, they are supposed only to be used at distance not close up. Remember an interview with him, really sad. So whilst I don’t condone this if you allow rotten apples to stay in the barrel and they give your organisation a bad name, people start pushing back.