Brief
BBC labels French riots ‘mostly peaceful’ as footage shows burning cars
BBC correspondent James Waterhouse described the unrest as largely peaceful, but the broadcast included scenes of arson and looting across French cities.
By Felo News Desk · Published
BBC correspondent James Waterhouse reported on French protests on Monday, describing the unrest that led to more than 2,400 arrests nationwide as "mostly peaceful" while the broadcast showed masked looters torching cars and clashing with police.
What happened
The weekend riots saw masked crowds fighting police, setting fire to vehicles and storming a wine shop, according to Waterhouse’s report. He said half a million people filled cities across France to protest the country’s future, and that shops, including a wine shop, were "completely gutted".
What the reports add
The New York Post article notes that the BBC’s description of the events as "mostly peaceful" was undercut by the visual evidence of burning cars and looted shops. It also records social‑media criticism, with users claiming the BBC was downplaying the violence and comparing the coverage to past "fake news" accusations.
What was said
Waterhouse told the BBC, "In Paris and beyond, half a million people had filled cities across France to protest over the future of their country," and added, "They were mostly peaceful, but as we saw in the capital, in the wings were those who wanted to take advantage of the disorder." He also said, "The shops that have been hit have been completely gutted, like this wine shop has been looted top to bottom." Social‑media users quoted in the article said the BBC’s narrative was "gaslighting" and likened it to past coverage of the 2020 U.S. riots.
Key facts
- BBC correspondent James Waterhouse described the French riots as "mostly peaceful" while showing footage of burning cars and looted shops. (nypost.com)
- More than 2,400 people were arrested across France during the weekend unrest. (nypost.com)
- Waterhouse said half a million people filled cities across France to protest the country's future. (nypost.com)
Sources
- [1] nypost.com — originally reported as “BBC calls France’s radical-left riots ‘mostly peaceful’ while showing cities in flames”
