Tear Gas and Clashes Reported in Paris Protests
Source reports published 24 Oct 2026, 1:30 pm – 25 Oct 2026, 5:37 am AEST
Protests in France continued over the weekend, marked by clashes between demonstrators and police. Police deployed tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds, while some Parisians purchased self-defense equipment.
What happened
- Across France, demonstrations focused on purchasing power and public services resulted in widespread unrest.
- In Paris, approximately 410,000 people participated in demonstrations, including 110,000 in the capital, according to the Interior Ministry.
- Simultaneously, a reported 400,000 people took part nationwide, with nearly 1,000 arrests made.
- Violent clashes occurred in multiple cities, including Paris, Lyon, Rennes, Nantes, Bordeaux, Nice, and Marseille.
- Dougie Beattie reported scenes of rioters throwing objects and fireworks at police, with officers responding by deploying tear gas and water cannons.
- He described the situation as "choking" and noted the widespread use of self-defense measures by Parisians, including the purchase of pepper spray.
- Authorities detained hundreds of people, and the unrest continued into the evening.
Original reporting
- South China Morning Post: Some Parisians buy pepper spray, tear gas for self-defence during protests
2026-10-24T03:30:17+00:00 - BBC: Fireworks and tear gas as protesters and riot police clash in Paris
2026-10-24T19:37:35.124000+00:00 - France 24 English: France: Protests continue while police fire tear gas at demonstrators
2026-10-24T17:10:42+00:00 - GB News: Dougie Beattie dodges tear gas as French rioters clash with police in Paris: ‘I'm being choked!'
2026-10-24T17:04:12+00:00