Dijon Mayor Nathalie Koenders condemned the urban violence that followed demonstrations against the cost of living on October 17, 2026, as two men accused of attacking police and damaging property were placed under judicial supervision.
Koenders joined elected officials and residents at the Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy on Monday, October 19, in a gathering to defend republican values, according to France 3 Régions.
The ceremony was organized in response to a call from the Association of French Mayors and drew approximately 100 attendees.
Among those present were Côte-d'Or lawmakers Catherine Hervieu and Océane Godard, Senator François Rebsamen, departmental council president François Sauvadet, local officials, police representatives, business owners, and Vincent Thomas, president of Université Bourgogne Europe.
Violence Erupts During Dijon Demonstration
The Côte-d'Or prefecture reported that 4,000 to 5,000 people took part in the main demonstration in Dijon on October 17.
While most of the march remained peaceful, masked individuals threw projectiles and fired mortar devices at security forces, prompting police to respond with tear gas.
Emergency services treated three people, including one person injured in the leg by a mortar projectile.
The procession later split into separate groups across the city center, and authorities prevented an attempted incursion into the railway station.
The prefecture also reported damage to street furniture and broken storefront windows along Rue de la Liberté.
A separate morning cycling demonstration involving 80 participants proceeded peacefully.
Koenders acknowledged the protesters' concerns while condemning the destruction that followed.
She said the actions of a minority had overshadowed the demands of demonstrators, many of whom had gathered peacefully to express their concerns about the cost of living.
Addressing the gathering, the mayor emphasized that attacks on public institutions threatened democratic principles and the authority of the state.
"When people attack town halls and prefects' residences, they are attacking the Republic," Koenders said, as reported by France 3 Régions.
Koenders also expressed solidarity with communities affected by the unrest, including Limoges, Marseille, Lyon, Lille, and Paris.
According to Infos-Dijon, the violence included looting, attacks on public buildings, and extensive damage to commercial properties.
The upper floors and roof of Limoges City Hall were destroyed by fire, while other incidents targeted municipal buildings and public facilities.
The mayor called for a balance between protecting public safety and preserving the right to demonstrate.
She also raised concerns about whether security arrangements in several French cities had been adequate to address the scale of the violence, arguing that the state needed to examine the resources deployed.
In Dijon, the municipality had not yet estimated the total cost of repairs.
Infos-Dijon reported at least two damaged bus shelters, numerous instances of graffiti on buildings and monuments, and damage to approximately 10 commercial storefronts.
Two Suspects Placed Under Judicial Supervision
Two men aged 29 and 20 appeared before the Dijon judicial court on October 19 under an immediate-trial procedure.
According to Ici, the uncle and nephew were arrested during the night of October 17-18 and faced allegations of violence against police officers without causing total incapacity for work, insulting officers, and damaging property.
The Dijon prosecutor, Arnaud Viornery, sought pretrial detention, citing the need to respond firmly to looting and disorder.
The lawyer representing three police officers who were allegedly assaulted also supported detention, describing the incidents as part of serious violence affecting Dijon and other French cities.
The court instead placed both defendants under judicial supervision.
Their restrictions include a ban on participating in demonstrations, a prohibition on contacting each other, and geographical restrictions preventing one from entering Dijon and the other from entering Côte-d'Or.
Both men requested additional time to prepare their defense.
The two defendants are scheduled to stand trial on November 27, 2026, at 1:30 p. m.
Their case follows a broader period of demonstrations and school blockades that began in September, amid public anger over living costs and growing disputes over the handling of protests.
Separately, around 50 mayors gathered in Brognon, Côte-d'Or, alongside regional prefect Violaine Demaret and Ludovic Rochette, the town's mayor and president of the Association of Mayors of Côte-d'Or.
Rochette said the gathering demonstrated the role of local governments in upholding republican values and called for changes in working methods and stronger local engagement to help ease tensions.
The Yellow Vests coordination group had also announced a second round of mobilization for October 24, 2026, according to France 3 Régions.
