Man, 22, dies after 'jumping off' the Arc de Triomphe in Paris

A young man has died after reportedly jumping off the iconic Arc de Triomphe monument in Paris.

Prosecutors in the French capital have launched an investigation into the 22-year-old's death after he fell from the 163ft war memorial on Saturday. 

The young man landed in front of several witnesses, according to reports,  and he was declared dead at 3.05pm.

However his death is not believed to be linked to the ongoing unrest in Paris.

A source told Le Dauphine: 'At this stage, no link to the demonstrations has emerged but inquiries are ongoing.' 

The authorities are treating the 22-year-old's death as a suicide, with investigators believing the young man 'jumped' from the Arc de Triomphe on Saturday afternoon.

Emergency services raced to the scene in the eighth arrondissement at the top of the Champs-Élysées.

The Arc de Triomphe was subsequently closed to the public. 

It came as violence once again erupted across France following protests over the cost of living, education standards and Emmanuel Macron's government. 

Yesterday a distraught woman was seen begging rioters not to loot a supermarket as demonstrations continued. 

The heartbreaking moment was caught on video, as the woman pleaded with a crowd of young male rioters not to raid the store – a plea they ignored, pushing her aside as they entered the smashed shop.

She is heard asking 'why are you doing this' and screaming 'this is not the cause' as the looters ignore her, with the crowd then appearing to cheer the balaclava-clad rioters as they leave the store with their arms full of stolen goods.

The shop was one of many buildings and businesses to be damaged in Saturday's demonstrations, which saw more than 1,200 people arrested in France as roughly 550,000 people took to the country's streets.

The iconic Limoges Town Hall, which was built in 1883 and survived both world wars, came tumbling down in a blaze after it was torched by rioters in the south-west of France.

A video seen by 1.4 million people on X showed the historic hall, which played a significant role in the French Resistance during the Second World War, collapsing, with its bell tower engulfed in flames.

For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or see thecalmzone.net/get-support