The violence of the protests in France is escalating... storming of the Lille municipality.

Protesters stormed the town hall building in Lille, northern France, today, Saturday, causing damage to its contents before leaving, according to the AFP news agency.

The riot police confirmed minutes later that all the protesters had left the location.

A demonstrator also suffered the amputation of his hand due to a projectile thrown by the police in Saint-Étienne, amid escalating violence and clashes as protests continue.

This is not the first incident of its kind; a 15-year-old student also had his hand amputated during confrontations with police during student protests.

Large-scale demonstrations erupted today in protest against the rising cost of living, with over half a million protesters taking to the streets across France.

A heavy police presence was seen in central Paris, especially near famous landmarks like the Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe, which were excluded from the routes of the two official demonstrations.

Protesters wearing bright yellow vests blocked streets, reminiscent of the unrest that characterized the previous presidency of President Emmanuel Macron.