About a hundred people arrested in Marseille during protest against Eurolinks
In Marseille, a protest against the arms company Eurolinks clashed with police on October 2, 2025. About a hundred people were arrested during the event aimed at condemning the firm's activities. Organizers highlight the societal impact of the arms industry.
On October 2, 2025, around 200 protesters gathered in Marseille to demonstrate against Eurolinks, a company specializing in military equipment manufacturing. The event, organized by anti-arms collectives, started peacefully in the La Joliette neighborhood but quickly escalated into clashes with police.
Law enforcement, present in large numbers, deployed tear gas to disperse the crowd following reports of projectiles thrown. According to a statement from the prefecture, 'about a hundred people were arrested for obstructing traffic and vandalism.' Among those detained were several figures from the environmental and pacifist movements, held temporarily.
A spokesperson for the organizers, speaking to Le Monde, stated: « Eurolinks profits from global conflicts at the expense of peace and the environment. We demand the reconversion of these factories to civilian production. » The firm, based in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, employs hundreds of workers and exports to countries in conflict zones, fueling criticism for years.
This is not the first such mobilization in Marseille. In 2023, a similar action against an arms fair had led to dozens of arrests. Local authorities emphasize that freedom of assembly is protected, but any excesses will be firmly repressed. Judicial proceedings for the arrests are underway, with immediate court appearances scheduled for some.
The incident highlights tensions surrounding France's arms industry, a strategic sector providing thousands of jobs but drawing strong ethical and social opposition.