Unrest across Europe leaves destruction in wake
Far-left protests and riots have broken out across Europe and in France, where police and violent rioters have clashed, leading to destructive fires to businesses and infrastructure. (Credit: Reuters)
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A historic building in the French town of Limoges, about three hours south of Paris, has been “largely lost” after it was set on fire by rioters as demonstrations continue across France.
The Limoges Town Hall was built in 1883, and was made a historic landmark in 1975.
“The roof has collapsed onto lower floors, except the west wing, and two-thirds of the exterior has already disappeared,” the local prefect, Maurice Barate, told the AFP news agency.
The tower roof of the 143-year-old Limoges Town Hall collapses.
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Barate called it “a deliberate act by hooligans,” adding that it was a “catastrophe for heritage.”
The destruction came as far-left anti-government protests and violent clashes entered their fourth week in the European country over the cost of living.
On Saturday, outgoing President Emmanuel Macron wrote on social media: “There is no place for violence in our republic.”
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Fire destroys Limoges Town Hall after rioters broke into the historic building to protest the “high cost of living,” in Limoges, central France on Saturday. (Pascal Lachenaud / AFP via Getty Images)
“Those who have broken, attacked the prefectures as well as businesses, looted even our town halls, will be prosecuted and punished,” he added translated from French. “To the law enforcement forces, guarantors of the right to demonstrate, I express the support of the Nation. 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 leaves office in six months.
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A fire breaks out at Limoges Town Hall in Limoges, central France on Saturday, during a demonstration. (Elise Cabane / Hans Lucas / AFP via Getty Images)
Around 400 people were arrested on Saturday, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, as more than a half million people took part in more than 100 marches across the country.
Masked groups also attempted to break into city halls in Lille and Calais and a police station in Brest, the interior minister reported, along with violence in Rennes, Toulouse, Montpellier and Grenoble, among other cities.
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Fire destroys Limoges Town Hall after rioters broke into the historic building to protest “high cost of living,” in Limoges, central France on Saturday. (Pascal Lachenaud / AFP via Getty Images)
Nuñez blamed the unrest on “extremely violent, radical far-left groups.”
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While many of the protests were without violence, many have descended into riots. Police used tear gas and water cannons on Saturday to disperse violent groups in Paris, where people wearing hoods and masks threw fireworks and other objects at officers in the Place de la République.