Residents and visitors in Paris described scenes of shock and disbelief after a night of violent unrest linked to France's growing protest movement. One visitor from the Netherlands said the situation around Place de la République felt "like a war zone" and forced his family to evacuate their hotel. A longtime local resident said tear gas entered his home during the clashes, making it difficult to breathe and describing the experience as "hell". While violent confrontations dominated headlines, some protesters and observers argued that the unrest reflects deeper frustrations over rising living costs, inequality and declining public services.