STORY: Night fell on protests in Paris on Saturday (October 17) in some of the country's most destructive unrest in years.

Police patrolled the areas around the Opera Garnier, and the Place Vendome, where protesters were still walking on the streets.

Violent clashes erupted between police and protesters across France on Saturday, as hundreds of thousands of people protested against rising costs and declining public services.

Protesters said most people had marched peacefully, and put much of the violence down to troublemakers who had set out to cause damage and clash with the police.

In some parts of Paris, police occasionally fired tear gas rounds as they retreated in the face of mostly young protesters, many of whom were dressed in black and wore hoodies, masks and goggles to protect against tear gas.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: PARIS, FRANCE (OCTOBER 17, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all) (NIGHT SHOTS)

1. FIRE BURNING, PERSON STANDING

2. VARIOUS OF FIRE BURNING, PEOPLE WALKING BY NEAR CANAL SAINT-MARTIN

2. PEOPLE BREAKING WINDOW AT SHOP, FIRE SEEN IN WINDOW REFLECTION

3. FIRE BURNING, BLACK SMOKE RISING

4. PROTESTERS LOOTING SHOP

5. PROTESTERS THROWING ITEMS FROM SHOP INTO FIRE

6. FIREMAN STANDING BESIDE FIRE

7. PEOPLE OUTSIDE LACOSTE SHOP

8. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS, FIRES BURNING AND PLUMES OF BLACK SMOKE RISING

9. POLICE WALKING UNDER ARCHES FROM RUE DE RIVOLI AREA

10. POLICE WALKING TOWARDS PLACE DE VENDOME

11. PROTESTERS GATHERED, DANCING

12. PROTESTER HOLDING SIGN READING (French): "CROSS THE ROAD TO GO INTO CUSTODY"

13. FIRE TRUCK PASSING, PROTESTERS CHEERING

14. POLICE OUTSIDE OPERA HOUSE, WALKING FORWARD

15. FIRE BURNING OUTSIDE OPERA GARNIER

16. POLICE VEHICLES DRIVING

17. FIRE BURNING OUTSIDE OPERA GARNIER