The National Times - Fire rages at town hall in France's Limoges after protests: authorities

Fire rages at town hall in France's Limoges after protests: authorities


Fire rages at town hall in France's Limoges after protests: authorities
Fire rages at town hall in France's Limoges after protests: authorities / Photo: © AFP

The town hall in the French city of Limoges was on fire on Saturday, authorities said, after a group attacked the building during unrest that broke out after cost-of-living protests.

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The blaze had spread to one wing of the 143-year-old building and reached the roof, a witness told AFP.

Firefighters were deployed to try to prevent the flames consuming the entire town hall.

Nearby, as hundreds of people watched the blaze, a municipal employee was seen in tears, comforted by a local councillor.

A group of masked protesters had torched a police car outside the town hall before breaking windows on the building and entering it to set a fire, according to witnesses.

Several shops in the centre of Limoges were also looted.

T.Ward--TNT