Limoges town hall in France caught fire after masked protesters attacked the building during cost-of-living unrest, while shops were looted nearby
LIMOGES: 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.
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.