A violent rioter in Paris hurled a firebomb directly into a line of French riot police on Saturday afternoon, with the device exploding on an officer and covering his shield, helmet, and body in flames as the officer beside him fell backward to the ground.

The rioters have claimed they are protesting the cost of living and school conditions.

The shocking incident unfolded on a city street in the 12th arrondissement near Porte de Charenton during the third consecutive weekend of nationwide riots.

French journalist Luc Auffret captured the attack on video and posted it to X.

WATCH (VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED):

Plusieurs cocktails molotov jetés contre les forces de l’ordre à Paris.

Situation très tendue porte de Charenton.

#31octobre #Paris https://t.co/G32fnaDICG

— Luc Auffret (@LucAuffret) October 31, 2026

The Paris police prefecture confirmed that a “hard core of several hundred rioters” at the rear of the authorized march attacked officers with projectiles, including at least one Molotov cocktail, as the demonstration arrived at Porte de Charenton.

Masked individuals dressed in black used hammers to pry up paving stones and hurl them at police, while others launched fireworks.

Officers responded with tear gas and baton charges.

French media outlets, including BFMTV and Entrevue, aired footage of the incendiary device exploding near officers, with reports that at least one officer’s leg was injured by the flames.

The Sun reported that one officer’s left leg burned for roughly 30 seconds after a petrol bomb was thrown over him.

Authorities have estimated roughly 320,000 people protested and rioted across France on Saturday, including about 70,000 in Paris.

Many of the protests remained peaceful, but violence broke out in Paris, Lyon, and other cities.

At Place de la République, trash bins, a kiosk, and a car were set on fire.