French police fire tear gas during fresh demonstrations over living costs

Police in France used tear gas against demonstrators on Saturday, 24 October 2026, as authorities stepped up security measures across several major cities. The nationwide protests were organised in response to the rising cost of living, with security forces aiming to prevent a repeat of the unrest that occurred during similar rallies a week earlier. In Marseille, security preparations included positioning armoured trucks, riot squad vehicles and a water cannon within the city centre to manage potential clashes. In the capital, police reported seizing various forbidden items from individuals, though they characterized the overall local environment as calm during the gathering. The heightened policing follows widespread violence from the previous weekend, when individuals on the fringes of nationwide marches engaged in clashes with law enforcement, damaged public structures and looted hundreds of businesses. Demonstrators were also seen marching along Avenue Jean Zay in a rally directed against racism, fascism and imperialism. French President Emmanuel Macron and members of his administration have worked to distinguish between the valid demands voiced by peaceful demonstrators and the widespread ransacking, burning and looting that broke out alongside the previous Saturday's public gatherings.