A fire during unrest in France severely damaged the historic town hall in Limoges, a city roughly three hours south of Paris. Local prefect Maurice Barate said the building had been largely lost, with its roof collapsed onto lower floors and about two-thirds of its exterior gone. The west wing was the exception, according to his account to Agence France-Presse.
The town hall dates to 1883 and received historic landmark status in 1975. Barate described the fire as deliberate and called the damage a catastrophe for the country’s heritage. The supplied report attributes the fire to rioters but does not provide details about suspects or an investigation.
The destruction occurred as anti-government demonstrations and violent clashes continued across France. The report said protests had entered their fourth week and were driven by concerns about the cost of living. It also noted that many demonstrations remained peaceful, while others turned violent.
On Saturday, outgoing President Emmanuel Macron condemned violence in a social media post. He said those responsible for attacks on prefectures, businesses and town halls would face prosecution and punishment. Macron also voiced support for law enforcement, while affirming the right to demonstrate peacefully. The report said he was due to leave office in six months.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said about 400 people were arrested on Saturday, while more than 500,000 people took part in over 100 marches nationwide. He reported attempted break-ins by masked groups at city halls in Lille and Calais and at a police station in Brest. The report also listed violence in Rennes, Toulouse, Montpellier and Grenoble, among other locations.
Nuñez blamed the unrest on what he called extremely violent, radical far-left groups. That characterization is his stated assessment; the supplied material does not provide evidence establishing the political affiliation of those involved in the Limoges fire.
In Paris, police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse violent groups at Place de la République on Saturday, according to the report. People wearing hoods and masks threw fireworks and other objects at officers. The material does not give a casualty count or further details about damage outside Limoges.
