The key facts

  • Demonstrators forcibly broke into Marseille city hall, toppled a bust of Marianne and damaged furniture in the lobby; police then cleared the building.
  • The actions took place as part of nationwide protests in France against rising prices.
  • Earlier, masked protesters attacked the facade of the municipal police station, set fire to garbage containers and threw smoke devices inside.

Storming of Marseille city hall

On Saturday, October 17, 2026, participants in nationwide demonstrations against rising prices in France broke into the Marseille city hall building and clashed with police — tension in the southern city rose sharply. According to AFP journalists on the scene, demonstrators forcibly pushed through the doors of the building, toppled a bust of Marianne — a symbol of the French Republic — and damaged furniture in the lobby. Police later intervened and cleared the building.

Attack on the municipal police

Earlier the same day, masked protesters attacked the facade of the municipal police station: they set fire to garbage containers and threw smoke devices at the building.