Brief
Macron calls for calm as France records 2,400 arrests after nationwide unrest
President Emmanuel Macron appealed for calm after police reported 2,400 arrests and nearly 1,000 injuries during Saturday‑Sunday protests over high prices.
By Felo News Desk · Published
President Emmanuel Macron appealed for calm on Sunday, a day after France experienced one of its worst episodes of unrest in years, according to Reuters. Police reported 2,400 arrests nationwide and nearly 1,000 officers injured as protests over high living costs and declining public services turned violent in cities including Paris and Marseille.
What happened
On Saturday, demonstrations that began peacefully in dozens of cities escalated into riots. A town hall was torched, shops were looted, and graffiti covered public buildings. Police intervened in Paris and Marseille to prevent further ransacking. On Sunday, police again clashed with protesters at Place de la République, using tear gas, and protesters set fire to piles of bicycles.
What the reports add
Reuters noted that a Dutch entrepreneur, Tije De Boer, described the scene in Paris as "like a war zone" and said he evacuated his hotel with his children. The outlet also reported that a protester died of cardiac arrest in Paris on Saturday. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said the police had made 2,400 arrests and that almost 1,000 officers were injured.
What was said
In a televised address, Macron said, "Nothing justifies it, nothing explains it, nothing excuses it," adding that the anger and shame felt across the nation must be addressed. He stopped short of declaring a state of emergency but said the government would allow prefects to ban protests if necessary to protect public buildings and local businesses. Far‑right National Rally leader Marine Le Pen called for calm, warning that France must not become accustomed to images of the country being battered and ransacked.
How it came about
The unrest follows a month‑long student movement that merged with broader public discontent over rising living costs and perceived declines in public services. Earlier coverage by Felo News documented the escalation of protests on Oct. 17, when at least 272 arrests were made and police used tear gas in Paris’s Place de la République. The current wave represents a sharp increase in both arrests and injuries.
Key facts
- Police reported 2,400 arrests across France during the unrest (news.yahoo.com)
- Nearly 1,000 police officers were injured (news.yahoo.com)
- President Macron appealed for calm and warned against a state of emergency (news.yahoo.com)
- A protester died of cardiac arrest in Paris (news.yahoo.com)
- Marine Le Pen called for calm amid the violence (news.yahoo.com)
Sources
- [1] news.yahoo.com — originally reported as “Macron urges calm as France counts the cost of worst unrest in years”
