'Like we had a war': France left reeling after nationwide violent protests

France was reeling on Sunday from widespread damage caused by violent protests the day before that saw 1,800 people arrested, a historic town hall torched and widespread looting. "It's like we had a war," a 78-year-old resident in central Paris, Mehmet Ozeden, said amid burnt street barricades from the protests. Read moreFires and clashes rock France amid massive nationwide protests The convulsion raised the stakes for President Emmanuel Macron, who is serving his final months in power before elections to replace him in six months' time. It followed weeks of student protests that had also turned violent at times. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said 1,800 people were arrested over the protests and looting, with investigations under way "to identify the perpetrators of these acts so they can be brought to justice". Torched cars, smashed shopfronts and burnt debris scarred numerous streets in Paris, where officials said 557 people were in custody after a "record" number of arrests. The capital experienced "a level of violence that we have never, I believe, seen before", said Paris deputy mayor Lamia El Aaraje. Hundreds of shops were looted in Paris and other cities, including Marseil...