After rioters leave town hall ablaze, French mayor calls for Notre Dame-style rebuild

Mayor demands full restoration

Guérin said he would resign alongside the city council unless central authorities pay for the complete restoration of Limoges’ town hall. The neo-Renaissance landmark dates to the 19th century and survived both world wars.

Speaking to local outlet Ici Limoges, Guérin said he wanted the city to receive rebuilding support on the scale provided for Notre-Dame de Paris. He also called for substantial funding.

Fire destroys historic features

Rioters set the town hall ablaze over the weekend. The fire severely damaged the building, and its roof and clock tower collapsed. Footage of the tower falling into the fire circulated on French media, prompting comparisons with the collapse of Notre-Dame’s spire seven years ago. A Limoges resident told Le Figaro the scene recalled watching that earlier event, but this time near home.

Guérin criticizes police response

The mayor accused the government of abandoning Limoges and criticized what he called an insufficient law enforcement response. He said police had run out of ammunition by 3.30pm and retreated.

Unrest spreads across France

An Apple store was looted in Lille, while public buildings in Lyon, Bordeaux and Toulouse were broken into and damaged. In Paris, masked agitators breached barricades, ransacked commercial areas along the Champs-Élysées and set fire to street infrastructure.

Police injuries and political blame

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said more than 150 police officers were injured in Saturday’s protests. He did not give a total for injured demonstrators. Lecornu blamed the violence on “ultra-left” groups and criminals, saying they were using the unrest as a “warm-up” for next year’s presidential election. A police union said officers were being pelted with stones, injured and caught in ambushes.