A historic town hall in the French city of Limoges has been largely destroyed by fire after rioters set the building ablaze during weeks of anti-government protests across the country.
The building, constructed in 1883 and designated a historic landmark in 1975, suffered extensive damage, with its roof collapsing onto lower floors.
“The roof has collapsed onto lower floors, except the west wing, and two-thirds of the exterior has already disappeared,” local prefect Maurice Barate told AFP.
Barate described the incident as “a deliberate act by hooligans,” calling the destruction a “catastrophe for heritage.”
The fire comes as demonstrations over the cost of living and opposition to the government enter their fourth week, with some protests resulting in violent clashes.
Outgoing French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the violence in a social media post on Saturday.
“There is no place for violence in our republic,” he said.
“Those who have broken, attacked the prefectures as well as businesses, looted even our town halls, will be prosecuted and punished,” Macron added.
He also expressed support for security forces tasked with maintaining order and protecting peaceful demonstrations.
“To the law enforcement forces, guarantors of the right to demonstrate, I express the support of the Nation,” he said.
“We will all stand united against the sowers of chaos, who seek only to bring down our institutions and prevent those who peacefully express their demands from doing so.”
Macron is due to leave office in six months.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said about 400 people were arrested on Saturday as more than 500,000 demonstrators took part in over 100 marches across France.
According to Nuñez, masked groups also attempted to break into town halls in Lille and Calais, as well as a police station in Brest. Violence was also reported in Rennes, Toulouse, Montpellier and Grenoble.
The interior minister blamed the unrest on “extremely violent, radical far-left groups.”
Although many demonstrations remained peaceful, others descended into riots.
In Paris, police fired tear gas and used water cannons to disperse violent groups at Place de la République on Saturday. Hooded and masked protesters threw fireworks and other objects at officers during the clashes.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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