French police arrest hundreds during nationwide protests over education and living costs

Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets across France on Saturday to protest. Police arrested between 400 and 1,200 people and used tear gas and water cannons to control crowds. Buildings were set on fire in several cities, including Paris, Lyon, and Grenoble. In Lyon, a 19th-century tourism office burned to the ground. Shops were also broken into, including an Apple store in Lille that was completely emptied. The protests brought together students, trade union members, and other groups. Students have been demonstrating for weeks because many schools lack staff and are in poor condition. On Saturday, they were joined by people angry about the high cost of living. The French government described the day as an escalation in violence.