While French President Emmanuel Macron devotes much attention to the war between Russia and Ukraine, unrest is escalating at home. Over the weekend, two city halls were reported to have been stormed, and chaotic images from the streets of multicultural France are spreading.

France continues to be rocked by widespread protests that have persisted for several weeks, with demonstrators setting schools on fire and attacking police officers.

According to French media reports, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators have gathered in the streets to protest what they describe as a failing school system and rising living costs.

Over the weekend, it was also reported that demonstrators—said to be largely youths with immigrant backgrounds—stormed two city halls. Other video clips show shops being looted, with people carrying out electronics and clothing.

Particularly violent scenes have played out in Marseille, southern France. There, a police station was attacked before masked demonstrators entered the city hall and attempted to barricade themselves inside the building.

Later that afternoon, similar incidents were reported in Lille in northern France, where demonstrators are also said to have stormed the city hall. In Lyon, the unrest reportedly led to a fire at a tourist office.

In Saint-Étienne, there was also a serious incident in which, according to police sources, a demonstrator had his hand blown off. The injury was reportedly caused by either a stun grenade or a tear gas canister. According to AFP, masked demonstrators started the fire. The situation has also been tense in the capital, Paris.

President Emmanuel Macron, who in recent days has as usual devoted considerable attention to Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is now appealing for calm at home.

At the same time, reports indicate that more and more groups are joining the protests. According to mainstream media, trade unions, farmers, teachers, and firefighters are now marching side by side with the students involved in the violence.

According to the French trade union CGT, at least half a million people have participated in around 1,750 demonstrations across the country. However, this figure has not been confirmed by the authorities, whose estimates of the number of participants often differ from those of the unions.

In several video clips, crowds can be seen looting shops and carrying out valuables, including TVs and clothing.