'Record' 855 people detained over Paris protest violence: police

Police in Paris said Sunday they had detained 855 people over protest violence in the capital as nationwide demonstrations swept France the day before.

Protesters march during a demonstration against the "high cost of living", in Paris on October 17, 2026 as part of a nationwide call for mobilisation bringing together various groups expressing their anger: former "Yellow Vest", secondary school and university students, climate activists and even farmers. (Photo: AFP)

Police said the number detained over Saturday's protests was a "record figure", while Deputy Mayor Lamia El Aaraje said Paris had been hit by "a level of violence that I believe we had never seen before".