Police Turn Water Cannon on Protesters in Toulouse as October 31 Rally Turns Tense

Police fired a water cannon at protesters in Toulouse on Saturday, October 31, as an unauthorised gathering during a nationwide day of protest against the high cost of living turned tense.

Footage filmed by X user MohaDZ31sang shows powerful jets of water arcing over a metal fence in front of tall buildings, filling the air with spray. Protesters, some masked, run along a soaked road as people shout “This way! This way!”

“16:10 the police start charging us in Toulouse, October 31 demonstration,” the filmer wrote.

Police used the water cannon around 4pm near the José-Cabanis media library after firing tear gas, according to La Dépêche du Midi. The paper reported that more than 2,000 people attended the gathering, which had not been declared to authorities, and that 45 people were arrested during the day. Three people were slightly injured, along with four police officers or gendarmes.