French police arrested a suspect on Tuesday over a fire that destroyed much of the historic town hall in Limoges, as authorities intensified their response to nationwide unrest over living costs and public services.
The arrest followed a weekend of violent demonstrations that left thousands detained, businesses damaged and police facing criticism over their handling of the disorder.
The suspect, reportedly linked to far-left movements and previously flagged by security authorities, was detained by the specialised RAID police unit in Val d'Issoire.
French media gave conflicting accounts of his age, identifying him as either 34 or approximately 40.
The 1883 town hall caught fire during Saturday's unrest, causing its roof and clock tower to collapse.
France's Counter-Terrorism Sub-Directorate has joined the investigation, while anti-terror prosecutors are considering whether to classify the incident as terrorism.
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said prosecutors would determine whether the destruction involved organised extremist activity.
Limoges Mayor Guillaume Guerin criticised the police response and demanded government funding to rebuild the building.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is expected to visit the city on Friday.
The unrest follows protests that began last month over school conditions before expanding to include fuel prices, living costs and deteriorating public services.
More than 2,500 people have been arrested nationwide, with over 120 imprisoned and approximately 1,000 police officers injured.
More than 2,000 businesses have also been affected.
Authorities introduced curfews and movement restrictions in Paris, Marseille, Bordeaux, Nice, Lyon and Lille.
Marseille announced additional restrictions targeting minors in commercial districts affected by looting.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez acknowledged that police had lost control in some cities.
His resignation offer was rejected by President Emmanuel Macron.
In Limoges, approximately 5,000 people participated in Saturday's demonstration, followed by 7,000 protesting against the violence on Sunday.
Organisers have announced further nationwide demonstrations for Saturday, while the CGT union has called for major strikes on 5 November.