Protestsupdated 1h ago2 min read
Dozens Set Fire to Limoges City Hall, Roof Collapses During Cost-of-Living Protests
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Limoges city hall was set on fire; roof collapsed and building largely destroyed. France-wide protests drew hundreds of thousands; riots, looting, and fires in multiple cities.
Limoges town hall burned
On Saturday, October 17, 2026, individuals set fire to Limoges City Hall during nationwide demonstrations against the high cost of living, and the roof collapsed while the campanile disappeared. Around 6:00 p.m. dozens of individuals forcefully entered the City Hall and set the ground floor on fire, and the flames climbed to the roof by around 7:00 p.m.
By 8:30 p.m. the campanile collapsed, and the crowd reacted with a mix of cries and cheers. Le Monde’s account in 20 Minutes described the damage as “very heavily damaged” and “largely lost,” and it quoted Maurice Barate saying, “The roof collapsed onto the lower floors, except in the west wing, and two thirds of the facade has already disappeared.”
Arrests, injuries, and claims
Authorities reported that nearly 2,400 people were arrested across France after riots, looting and arson during cost-of-living protests, and the Interior Ministry said about 1,000 officers were injured. DW reported that Paris police recorded 855 arrests and prosecutors said 517 people remained in custody, including 171 minors, with arrests continuing until early Sunday.
Detainees were being held for looting but there were still no arrests for the fire at the town hall. Emmanuel Macron told the nation, “Those who looted will have to pay back for the damage, and those who sought to bring down the Republic will be held accountable,” while he blamed “unrestrained violence” on “insurrectionist elements from radical far-left groups, joined by numerous criminals.”
Aftermath and investigations
The Limoges public prosecutor opened a flagrancy investigation into the destruction of property by dangerous means committed by an organized gang, and the prosecutor’s office said the case was assigned to the Limoges division of organized crime and specialized crime (DCOS).
“At 3:25 p.m., the National Police was out of ammunition. There was clearly a malfunction in the chain of command. This could have been avoided.”
The prosecutor’s office mobilized 40 investigators and placed 17 people, including seven minors, in custody, with the youngest being 14 years old.
Eight stores were identified as having been looted by the Prefect of Haute-Vienne and two suspects had already admitted being the perpetrators.
Le Journal du Centre quoted Guillaume Guérin saying, “At 3:25 p.m., the National Police was out of ammunition. There was clearly a malfunction in the chain of command. This could have been avoided.”