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LILLE, FRANCE — OCT. 21, 2026: Lille OSC covered the windows of its merchandise shop with wooden boards on Wednesday, Oct. 21, ahead of its UEFA Champions League match against Galatasaray, amid looting incidents during nationwide protests.
Lille is set to host Galatasaray later Wednesday.
Protests emerged in September at schools in the Paris suburb of Creteil, where teacher shortages helped trigger student demonstrations and school blockades.
Several protesters suffered serious injuries during the October unrest, including two 17-year-olds: one lost an eye and another lost a hand in a grenade explosion.
Demands for more teachers, smaller classes and improved facilities broadened into a wider mobilization over living costs and public services, attracting trade unionists and Yellow Vest activists.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez reported that 550,000 people attended 110 demonstrations nationwide on Oct. 17, including 110,000 in Paris. Organizers estimated national turnout at 800,000, according to Le Monde.
Peaceful marches were followed in several cities by clashes, looting and attacks on public buildings. In Limoges, individuals set fire to the historic town hall at the end of the demonstration, devastating the building.
French authorities said roughly 3,000 businesses were affected by the weekend violence and nearly 1,000 security personnel were injured.
Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin said 2,513 people had been taken into custody following the weekend unrest.
On Monday, protesters also blocked the entrance to the Louvre museum in Paris Authorities imposed localized overnight curfews in parts of Paris, Lyon and other cities.
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said the restrictions helped restore calm and promised a larger police deployment for further demonstrations planned for Oct. 24.