Female British tourist’s calf is torn off by projectile after being caught up in French riots

A British tourist was seriously injured when a projectile struck her during clashes between demonstrators and police in Toulouse on 17 October. The incident happened amid widespread unrest over living costs, fuel prices and education funding, as the French government faces criticism over its handling of the protests.

The woman’s identity has not been released. A local restaurant worker said the projectile tore her calf and lodged plastic in her knee; street medics stemmed the bleeding before emergency services took her to hospital. The number of people injured remains unknown. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced further local curfews and meetings with political parties, unions and social media platforms, while President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged shortcomings in the response.