French President Emmanuel Macron denounced what he called unchecked violence linked to nationwide cost-of-living demonstrations after another day of confrontations between police, protesters and looters in Paris.
Key takeaways
- Nearly 2,400 people were detained on Saturday during one of France’s worst bouts of urban unrest in recent years.
- Almost 1,000 police officers and gendarmes were hurt, including seven with serious injuries.
- Macron said security would be reinforced and the handling of the unrest by police would be reviewed.
- The president stopped short of declaring a state of emergency or introducing a curfew.
- Fresh disorder in Paris on Sunday included looting near Place de la République and clashes involving tear gas and stun grenades.
Macron promises tougher security response
The Interior Ministry described Saturday’s events as among the most serious episodes of city violence the country has faced in years. The scale of arrests and injuries underscored the pressure on France’s security forces as demonstrations over household living costs escalated into widespread disorder.
In a national address, Macron said the government would bolster public security measures and assess how police responded to the disturbances. He nevertheless declined to invoke emergency powers or order a nighttime curfew, despite the breadth of the violence.
“Tonight, we all feel anger and shame,” Macron said. He drew a distinction between people voicing what he termed legitimate grievances and those carrying out destruction, vandalism and theft.
The president said perpetrators would be held accountable. He pledged a firm response to what he described as agitators from ultra-left fringe movements, alongside numerous criminals, whom he accused of unleashing uncontrolled violence in French cities.
Paris and Lyon see further clashes
Disorder continued in Paris on Sunday after social-media calls brought hundreds of people to a public square for a gathering authorities said had not been authorised. Police used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the crowd.
Some participants threw bottles and stones at officers, leading to several arrests. Businesses around Place de la République were also looted, while specialist riot units returned to the area for a second straight day.
Clashes were also reported in Lyon in southeastern France, where police intercepted a group of young people who tried to break the windows of a high-end clothing shop.
