Clashes erupt in Paris as at least 400,000 march across France

A wave of violence swept through Barcelona, Spain, on Saturday, leaving 100 people arrested after rioters set more than 30 fires and damaged or looted 14 stores, according to Reuters.

The unrest erupted near the city's popular Plaza de Catalunya, where masked individuals smashed storefront windows and stole merchandise during demonstrations against the political establishment.

Catalonia's interior minister, Núria Parlon, said approximately a quarter of those arrested were minors. Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni warned that those responsible for the destruction could face legal consequences.

The violence comes as several European countries grapple with demonstrations, including France, where hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets Saturday and police confronted protesters in Paris and other cities.

President Donald Trump blamed France's ongoing unrest on immigration during a rally in Perry, Georgia, on Saturday, warning that similar violence would not be tolerated in the United States.

"So guys like [Democrat Sen.] Jon Ossoff, they look at what's happening in France, and he votes to bring those same things that got France and that problem here. That won't happen here. And if it does, they got a big problem. They're not going to be," he said.

Trump accused French authorities of preventing police from adequately responding to the unrest and argued that the country's immigration policies were responsible for the violence.

"So France is right now burning down because it opens its borders to people who hate it," Trump said.

The president also dismissed education-related grievances as the cause of the demonstrations, instead blaming migrants for the unrest.

The remarks came as hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated across France Saturday, with police deploying tear gas and water cannons in Paris and authorities reporting approximately 1,000 arrests nationwide.

Trump made the comments while campaigning for Republican Senate candidate Rep. Mike Collins, who is challenging Ossoff in Georgia's Senate race. 

Reports of looting emerged Saturday evening in Paris and other French cities as authorities reported approximately 1,000 arrests nationwide during another day of widespread demonstrations.

Fox News senior foreign affairs correspondent Greg Palkot, reporting from Paris on "Fox Report Weekend," said police appeared to have contained one trouble spot in the capital after officers deployed tear gas and water cannons against protesters.

Palkot said Saturday's demonstrations had largely avoided the widespread destruction seen the previous weekend, but reports of additional looting were beginning to emerge as night fell.

Authorities deployed tens of thousands of officers across France in an effort to prevent a repeat of last weekend's violence, while businesses boarded up storefronts and major museums closed as a precaution.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni thanked law enforcement officers Saturday for maintaining public safety during demonstrations across Italy, while condemning attempts by violent protesters to provoke confrontations with police.

In a post on X, Meloni praised officers working to protect citizens and peaceful demonstrators, while also thanking Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi and other officials who coordinated security operations.

"The right to demonstrate must always be guaranteed, just as the right of citizens to live their cities in safety must be," Meloni wrote, according to an English translation of her remarks.

She also defended recently approved government measures aimed at giving authorities stronger tools to prevent violence and property destruction.

Her comments came as police deployed water cannons against protesters in Rome on Saturday, with confrontations also reported in Turin and Bologna. Demonstrations in Milan remained largely peaceful, according to Reuters.

President Donald Trump, left, and first lady Melania Trump listen to a question from a reporter after casting their early-voting ballots for the 2026 midterm elections at the Palm Beach County Library in West Palm Beach, Fla., Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

President Donald Trump pointed to the ongoing unrest in France on Saturday as a warning about what he said could happen in the United States under left-wing leadership.

Speaking to reporters after voting in Florida, Trump criticized the country's previous leadership and drew a comparison to the violent protests that have swept across France.

"Just two years ago, we were laughed at. We were a stupid country. We were a country led by idiots and morons and bad people and radical left people... Just take a look at France because that's what they'd like to have for our country — and I don't let that happen."

Trump's remarks came as hundreds of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across France Saturday, with police using tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds in Paris following confrontations with protesters.

French authorities deployed up to 70,000 law enforcement officers nationwide in an effort to prevent a repeat of last weekend's widespread rioting and looting.

Italian police deployed a water cannon against protesters in Rome on Saturday as demonstrations over rising living costs and war turned violent in several cities across the country.

Reuters footage showed riot police confronting demonstrators before a water cannon vehicle approached with its sirens sounding and sprayed water toward the crowd.

The confrontations came as authorities increased security and businesses closed as a precaution following widespread rioting and looting the previous weekend.

Violence was also reported in Turin and Bologna, where demonstrators confronted police, while protests in Milan remained largely peaceful, according to Reuters.

The latest unrest follows last weekend's demonstrations, during which protesters fought with police, looted stores and damaged property across Italy.

Lt. Col. Darin Gaub warned Saturday that protests spreading across Europe could escalate into further violence, as demonstrators confronted police in Albania and unrest continued in France.

Speaking on Fox News' "Saturday in America," Gaub said similar demonstrations have already emerged in Belgium and Italy, although on a smaller scale than those in France.

He said protesters were rallying around concerns about government corruption, economic conditions and education, but warned that some groups could seek to turn demonstrations into violent confrontations.

Gaub said he was surprised the unrest had not grown significantly in London and urged European governments to monitor the situation closely.

"I believe every European nation should be watching this extremely closely," Gaub said.

The warning comes as police in Albania's capital, Tirana, confronted protesters Saturday, with some demonstrators setting government buildings on fire and throwing projectiles at officers.

Meanwhile, French authorities deployed thousands of officers nationwide as demonstrations continued across the country following last weekend's widespread rioting and looting.

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo criticized French President Emmanuel Macron's handling of nationwide unrest Saturday, blaming his leadership for the violence that has swept through France.

Speaking on Fox News' "America Reports," Pompeo said the French government failed to adequately protect people and businesses during last weekend's widespread rioting and looting.

"But Macron has failed, right? This is a symptom of failed leadership," Pompeo said.

Pompeo welcomed the deployment of 70,000 law enforcement officers across France Saturday, saying authorities needed to protect residents, tourists and businesses from further violence.

He also warned that the unrest was spreading beyond France and argued that European governments must do more to provide security and improve conditions for their citizens.

The remarks came as more than 400,000 people participated in demonstrations across France Saturday, according to government estimates. Police deployed tear gas and water cannons in Paris after protesters threw objects at officers, while confrontations were also reported in Lyon and Marseille.

Nile Gardiner, a former adviser to British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, warned Saturday that violent unrest in France could intensify in the coming weeks and spread to other European countries.

Speaking on Fox News' "Saturday in America," Gardiner, an expert at the Heritage Foundation, blamed communist, socialist and Islamist groups for contributing to the unrest.

"And I expect we are going to see, the violence actually, perhaps getting even, significantly worse in the coming weeks," Gardiner said.

He also argued that mass migration has played a significant role in the violence and warned that similar unrest could spread to Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

France faced another day of nationwide demonstrations Saturday, with police deploying tear gas and water cannons in Paris after some protesters threw objects at officers.

French authorities planned to deploy as many as 70,000 law enforcement officers nationwide to prevent a repeat of last weekend's widespread rioting and looting.

France has reached the "dead end of socialism" as violent protests spread across the country, a French artificial intelligence entrepreneur said Friday.

Speaking on "The Faulkner Focus," Brivael Le Pogam blamed decades of left-wing policies for what he described as growing unrest and declining public services in France.

"Right now we are just seeing the dead end of socialism," Le Pogam, CEO and co-founder of Argil AI, said.

"It's super sad, and it's purely chaotic right now. And I think, so, basically there is a lot of different causes, but mainly for me, it's the consequences of socialism," he added.

The demonstrations began with students expressing frustration over conditions at their schools and the quality of education. Protests have since spread across France, with some turning violent and leading to looting and thousands of arrests.

On Saturday, thousands marched in Orléans, southwest of Paris, to protest what they described as fascism, while other demonstrators gathered in the capital. French authorities said they planned to deploy 70,000 police officers ahead of additional demonstrations to prevent a repeat of the destruction and looting seen the previous weekend.

This is an excerpt of an article by Fox News Digital's Madison Colombo.

Police officers detain protesters during a demonstration in Strasbourg, France, on Oct. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

The number of people arrested during Saturday's demonstrations across France has surged from 135 earlier in the day to nearly 1,000, according to a new figure announced by French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez.

The sharp increase comes as police respond to confrontations in multiple cities, including Paris, where officers deployed tear gas and water cannons after demonstrators began throwing projectiles.

Nuñez indicated that more arrests were likely as authorities continued their response, CBS News reported.

France's Interior Ministry estimated that 410,000 people participated in Saturday's demonstrations nationwide, including 110,000 in Paris.

The protests come one week after widespread rioting and looting left roughly 3,000 businesses damaged or looted across France.

Police officers in riot gear walk near a burning structure during an anti-government protest by students in Tirana, Albania, on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (Valdrin Xhemaj/Reuters)

Albania's capital of Tirana is being rocked by protests again Saturday as police fired water cannons on large groups of agitators, some of whom set government buildings on fire and threw projectiles at law enforcement. 

High school and university students there are demanding lower tuition fees, greater state investment in education and protesting corruption in the education system.  

Some have joined a broader anti-government movement calling for the resignation of Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama. 

Rama said Saturday his government was preparing a response to the students' demands and called them to a dialogue, according to The Associated Press. He warned that violent protesters will face penalties. 

The Associated Press contributed to this post. 

The Paris Police Department said Saturday that it prevented agitators from breaking into a car dealership following the conclusion of a protest march. 

"The swift intervention of law enforcement prevented them from doing so and secured the business," it added on X. 

France's interior ministry reported Saturday that an estimated 410,000 people have been participating in demonstrations across France, including 110,000 in Paris, according to the AP. 

The CGT labor union reportedly claimed the nationwide figure was higher, at 800,000. 

Video obtained by Fox News Digital shows police in Paris, France firing water cannons Saturday in an attempt to disperse a massive crowd of protesters.

The French interior ministry estimated that 110,000 took part in a march on the city’s southeastern edge that started peacefully but is now ending with violence.

Protesters march in Paris, France, on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (Raphael Lafargue/Abaca for Fox News Digital)

Some of demonstrators in Paris started throwing projectiles at police, prompting them to respond with tear gas, The Associated Press reported.

The French government estimated that 410,000 people have attended demonstrations across the country Saturday.

The Paris prosecutor’s office said 64 people had been arrested in connection with Saturday’s demonstration in Paris and 40 placed in police custody. Those arrested included six minors. Most arrests concerned suspected weapons offenses or participation in a group preparing violence or property damage, the office said.

The Associated Press contributed to this post.

People stand in front of the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (Dylan Martinez/Reuters)

Tourists were turned away from the Louvre on Saturday as some of Paris' most iconic museums remained shuttered amid fears of renewed violence, a week after destructive riots erupted across France.

The Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Picasso Museum and Grand Palais were all shuttered Saturday as French officials prepared for another weekend of potentially violent demonstrations, according to The Associated Press.

Visitors were seen peering through the Louvre's locked gates Saturday, where a posted notice announced its temporary closure.

The museum, home to Leonardo da Vinci's famed "Mona Lisa," was among several major attractions closed amid fears of violent protests.

French officials planned to deploy up to 70,000 law enforcement officers nationwide on Saturday, supported by helicopters, armored vehicles and water cannons, according to the AP.

Italian army paratroopers patrol the area around Milan's Duomo Cathedral, Italy, on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, ahead of expected protests against the rising cost of living and deteriorating public services. (Antonio Calanni/AP)

Five hundred additional soldiers were sent to the Italian city of Milan on Saturday over concerns that protests there could spiral into riots. 

The 500 soldiers deployed to Milan come in addition to hundreds already stationed there, and will support about 5,000 police and other law enforcement personnel. Authorities are using drone surveillance, checks at railway stations, rapid-response units and online monitoring for potential calls to violence, according to The Associated Press. 

People march through the streets of Milan, Italy, on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (Antonio Calanni/AP)

Rioters last weekend smashed their way into stores, targeting sneakers, athletic wear and sporting goods on streets that run off the city’s central Duomo square. 

Security was also heightened in Rome, where authorities locked down luxury shopping streets and stepped up controls around the Circus Maximus and Piazza del Popolo, the AP also reported. 

The Associated Press contributed to this post.

France's National Gendarmerie said Saturday that law enforcement is being targeted with fireworks in the eastern city of Dijon. 

"Diverted from their original use, these pyrotechnic weapons, fired horizontally, can reach a temperature on impact of up to 1,000°C," the agency said in a post on X. 

The development comes as clashes are happening Saturday between hooded youth and police in the French cities of Marseille and Lyon, according to Reuters. 

The news agency added that tear gas also has been fired at agitators in Clermont-Ferrand, Grenoble, Lille and Nice. 

Protesters march during a demonstration against rising living costs in Paris, France, on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (Thibault Camus/AP)

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said Saturday that 135 people have been arrested so far across the country as a fresh wave of protests are developing, according to Reuters. 

Many of those arrested were taken into custody during pre-emptive searches by law enforcement, which uncovered fireworks, ball bearings and other items that could potentially be used as weapons, the news agency added. 

The Paris Police Department said "Violent individuals have no place in the marches." 

"The objective is clear: to prevent troublemakers from joining the procession, and to ensure the safety of the demonstrators," it added on X. 

People are taking to the streets of France to call for education reform and to demonstrate against the rising cost of living. 

People disperse after tear gas is deployed during a demonstration banned by local authorities in Lyon, France, on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (Lisi Niesner/Reuters)

Reports emerged Saturday of French police pushing back against protesters in the southeastern part of the country.

In the city of Clermont-Ferrand, officers used tear gas and stun grenades against demonstrators trying to reach the city center, French media reported.

Video captured by Euronews on Saturday also showed police using tear gas to disperse demonstrators in Lyon. The network said around 150 protesters had gathered near a university where protests were banned by officials.

More than half a million people took to the streets of France last Saturday. Some 3,000 shops across France were damaged or looted over the weekend.

The Associated Press contributed to this post.

Fox News correspondent Jonathan Hunt reported Saturday that thousands of people have now gathered in Paris, France, as the main protest march in the French capital is underway. 

Police are seen in Paris, France, on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, as the main protest march in the city is getting underway. (Eliot Blondet/Abaca for Fox News Digital)

"This is a protest, it started obviously, about educational standards. High school students were leading the protests. It has now become a much bigger protest about the cost of living, the problems of the French economy and the dissatisfaction, particularly among the youth, but also the fears of the older generation, pensions, etc., because the French economy is in so much trouble," Hunt told "Fox & Friends Weekend." 

"So this is what we are seeing right now. What is so far, a peaceful march. Obviously, the great concern here, is what happened last week, Oct. 17, when we saw, this kind of protest turn into violent rioting in the later hours, thousands of businesses right across France, not just in Paris, but in cities across France, got so badly damaged, there was so much looting," Hunt continued.

French riot police monitor as protesters walk during an authorized demonstration organized by labor unions in Paris, France, on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (Hannah McKay/Reuters)

"What nobody wants is for that to happen again. The people, the groups leading these protests don't want that to happen. They know that their cause was hijacked by those who simply wanted to commit acts of violence," Hunt also said. "They hope that won't happen again today. But we're in the very early stages of this. Remember, in these situations, it is always in the later hours when that kind of activity, tends to burst open and you see the fires, you see the violence, you see the looting that we saw so much of last week." 

Leftists unions and political party members hold a banner reading "all united against fascism. For the popular rally and social progress" during a protest on the sidelines of the far-right party National Rally congress, in Orleans, France, on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (Teresa Suarez/AP)

Thousands of people are currently marching in the city of Orléans, south of Paris, on Saturday as Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally party is holding a political convention.

Demonstrators were seen carrying a banner that read, "All united against fascism. For the popular rally and social progress," as they made their way through the city's streets, according to The Associated Press.

Demonstrators hold a banner reading, “Long live the revolution,” during a protest on the sidelines of the far-right National Rally (RN) congress in Orleans, France, on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (Teresa Suarez/AP)

Left-wing parties, unions and activist groups planned the march Saturday, while antifascist groups have announced plans for a separate protest Sunday near the convention venue, according to a State Department assessment reviewed by Fox News Digital earlier this week.

A demonstrator holds a sign reading, “You will not extinguish the fire of youth” in Orleans, France, on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (Teresa Suarez/AP)

The State Department had warned that the antifascist groups were planning to participate in a "potentially more confrontational protest" this weekend, compared to the riots and looting that swept through France last Saturday.

Fox News Digital's Morgan Phillips and The Associated Press contributed to this post.

French police patrol at the Place de la Bastille in Paris ahead of nationwide protests called by the "Yellow Vests" movement on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (Dylan Martinez/Reuters)

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez told police in Paris on Saturday that "We have to be ultra, ultra responsive," ahead of planned protests in the French capital, according to Reuters. 

"We have significant calls for disruption from political groups and quite simply from criminals," Nuñez reportedly said. "It is going to be a long day." 

He also told law enforcement to be "hyper-reactive" in going after potential troublemakers and looters, Reuters reported.  

The Paris Police Department said Saturday it has seized "numerous prohibited items" at security checkpoints ahead of planned protests. (Paris Police Department)

The Paris Police Department said Saturday that it is "organizing massive checks, particularly in train stations and public transport, to deter those who might come to the capital with bad intentions." 

"Following 635 checks, numerous prohibited items have been seized and several arrests have been made," it added on X, sharing photos of a knife that apparently was removed from an individual. "We will be uncompromising." 

"At this hour, the situation is calm in Paris," Paris police also said. 

French police officers stand next to armored vehicles of the French Gendarmerie Nationale near the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, ahead of nationwide protests. (Hannah McKay/Reuters)

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said as many as 70,000 officers will be deployed nationwide Saturday, along with helicopters, armored vehicles and water cannons, as the country braces for another wave of anti-government protests that led to widespread rioting and looting last weekend. 

Parisian shopkeepers have been barricading their stores all week, as some 3,000 shops across France were damaged or looted last weekend, according to The Associated Press. 

Protest marches are scheduled in Paris and Marseille, but some other rallies, including in Lyon, Nice and Montpellier, have been banned by local authorities. In Lyon, French media reported that police used tear gas Saturday morning. 

French soldiers patrol around the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris, France, ahead of nationwide protests on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (Hannah McKay/Reuters/TPX Images of the Day)

The protests began in France in September with calls for education reform, before expanding into larger anti-government demonstrations that French officials say are being fueled by far-left groups. 

"Last Saturday we had political and seditious acts by ultra-left groups whose aim is to bring down the Republic," French President Emmanuel Macron told the media this week, ahead of Saturday's planned demonstrations. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.