France in Turmoil · Breaking
Published Saturday, 24 October, 7:15 p.m. ET (1:15 a.m. Sunday, 25 October, Paris) · Source: Marseille prefecture, Interior Ministry, TF1, BFMTV
Protesters fired mortar fireworks at police in Marseille on Saturday, 24 October 2026, as the France protests entered a second weekend. The prefecture, the state’s local authority, reported 51 arrests in the Marseille area, including 20 adults, by 9 p.m. Paris time (3 p.m. ET).
Police used tear gas and three shops were looted after a union march ended, officials said. Nationwide, the Interior Ministry counted 410,000 marchers, as we reported in Officials Count 410,000 at France Protests.
Key Facts
- What happened: Protesters fired mortar fireworks at Marseille police after an authorised union march.
- The numbers: 51 arrests in the Marseille area, 20 of them adults; 410,000 marched nationwide, officials say.
- What authorities did: Marseille’s curfew was extended to adults for Saturday and Sunday nights.
- What happens next: Yellow Vests, a grassroots movement, call new protests for 31 October.
- Prediction markets: Polymarket puts a French state of emergency by 31 December at 15.5% (7:07 p.m. ET, 24 October).
This story is part of our coverage of the why France is in crisis. Dates, times and how to follow it are in our guide.
In plain English
For two Saturdays running, France has seen mass marches over living costs. Most marches passed peacefully, but small groups clashed with police after dark, and Marseille was one of the hardest-hit cities again.
Fireworks and Looting in Marseille
Protesters launched mortar fireworks towards police during running street skirmishes, and there were reports of looting, including a jewellery shop and a supermarket, according to BFMTV, a French news channel. Riot police used tear gas, and barricades and rubbish bins were set alight.
Mayor Benoît Payan, said several groups tried to loot different parts of the city and asked residents to stay cautious. Later he said the city centre and outskirts were “largely secured” and described a deployment “up to the challenge”, including seven mobile riot-police units and a water cannon.
The prefecture’s provisional count at 9 p.m. Paris time showed three shops looted and damaged, 51 arrests across its area and 20 people in police custody. It said the authorised march drew 17,000 people, while the CGT union claimed 100,000.
Curfew Extended to Adults
Marseille first banned all demonstrations for 24 October, then allowed the inter-union march as a one-off exception. The curfew for minors in the city centre and some commercial areas was widened to adults for the nights of Saturday to Sunday and Sunday to Monday, TF1 reported. A local news site, Destimed, gave the curfew hours as 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Nationwide Picture
The Interior Ministry counted 410,000 marchers across France, down from 550,000 a week earlier. The CGT claimed about 800,000, nearly double the government figure.
About 70,000 police and gendarmes were deployed, more than a week earlier. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said almost 1,000 people had been arrested nationwide and the number was expected to rise.
Nuñez said security forces faced an “extremely high level of violence”, with projectiles thrown and mortar fireworks fired, though far less looting than a week earlier.
What Prediction Markets Say
On Polymarket, a crypto-based prediction market, traders put a French state of emergency by 31 December at 15.5% and by 31 October at 4.0% (about US$779,000 traded, 7:07 p.m. ET on 24 October). On Kalshi, an exchange regulated in the US by the CFTC, the odds are 23.0% before 1 January 2027 and 8.0% before 1 November (66,914 contracts traded).
Why we show this: prediction markets turn real-money bets into a live probability that moves within minutes of the news, which is why investors, campaigns and newsrooms in the United States now follow them closely. We show them next to polls and official results, never instead of them.
What It Means for US Readers
Travellers should check local curfew and transport notices; see our guide on whether it is safe to travel to France. For US investors, repeated unrest adds political risk ahead of the France 2027 election.
What Is Not Known
We have not independently verified the videos circulating on social media, and the reports do not say how many of the 51 arrests involved police attacks, looting or curfew breaches. We found no published Marseille injury count, and turnout figures remain sharply disputed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in Marseille on 24 October?
Protesters fired mortar fireworks at police during street clashes after an authorised union march, according to BFMTV. Police used tear gas, and the prefecture reported 51 arrests in the Marseille area, including 20 adults, as of 9 p.m. Paris time (3 p.m. ET).
Is there a curfew in Marseille?
Yes. The curfew for minors in the city centre and some commercial areas was extended to adults for the nights of Saturday to Sunday and Sunday to Monday, according to TF1.
How many people protested across France?
The Interior Ministry counted 410,000 marchers nationwide, down from 550,000 on 17 October. The CGT union claimed about 800,000.
What happens next?
The Yellow Vests, a grassroots movement that began in 2018, have called a new day of protest for 31 October.
Sources: TF1 Info live report, 24 October 2026; CNN live report quoting BFMTV; BBC live report; Polymarket; Kalshi; French government.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief