CRS riot police break through makeshift barricade during protest in Tours, France

On October 17, 2026, in Tours, France, @BENZAITNabil shared a video showing a tense confrontation between a lone demonstrator and a line of French CRS riot police during nationwide protests. In the video, a woman wearing a maroon hoodie stands facing officers carrying transparent shields, with a makeshift barricade of metal barriers and stacked café chairs separating them. The officers then advance, kicking and smashing through the barricade as the demonstrator retreats and runs away. According to reports, more than 12,000 people participated in a demonstration in Tours as part of a nationwide protest movement over the cost of living, rising fuel prices, and inflation, alongside demands for greater direct democracy. Although most demonstrations were reported to be peaceful, unrest broke out in parts of the city, with reports of looting, clashes with police, arrests, and injuries to officers.