Despite a ban on gatherings, around 2,300 people took to the streets in Nice as part of the nationwide mobilisation against the cost of living.
Police deployed heavily (including water cannons and tear gas) to prevent protesters from reaching commercial streets. Later in the day, tensions flared between demonstrators and far-right activists, leading to scuffles, several injuries, and dozens of arrests.
Protesters tried to break through a police cordon by pushing supermarket shopping trolleys loaded with metal bars as makeshift barricades.
Police held the line, used tear gas, and made arrests after bottles and other objects were thrown. The confrontation happened despite a ban on gatherings in the city centre, a week after the 17 October riots that saw shops looted, businesses damaged, and dozens of officers injured
French riot police clashed with protesters who tried to breach a police cordon using shopping trolleys as makeshift barricades.
Despite a ban on demonstrations in the city centre (following last weekend’s looting and violence), thousands still gathered. Police used tear gas and charged after bottles and other objects were thrown at officers. The trolley barricades were quickly pushed back.
This comes a week after the 17 October riots in Montpellier, when dozens of shops were looted or damaged, public buildings were attacked, and dozens of police officers were injured. Local businesses suffered millions of euros in losses.
