French police lost control during riots as interior minister concedes security failures

Crowds exceeded expectations

Nuñez said intelligence agencies had forecast 200,000 demonstrators across France. More than 500,000 took part, and peaceful gatherings were overtaken by violence, making the day one of the country’s most violent periods of unrest in recent years.

The protests followed weeks of high school student demonstrations, some marked by clashes with police. They are unfolding six months before a presidential election and as economic pressures mount.

Security forces overwhelmed

Some 60,000 police and other security personnel were deployed nationwide, Nuñez said. He acknowledged that the force was insufficient against organised, determined groups in Paris, Marseille and Lyon.

Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin also pointed to intelligence failures. He said many people arrested had police records and that about 80% were being prosecuted.

Macron orders review

Macron’s office said Nuñez had been asked to review security shortcomings and quickly put new operational methods in place for forces confronting rioters. In a Sunday television address, Macron condemned the violence and said local authorities could prohibit some demonstrations in the coming days. He did not declare a state of emergency or impose a curfew.

Protests continue in Paris

Grégoire said responsibility for maintaining public order rested with the state, which he said had failed over the weekend. He warned that protests would continue, citing a spreading social movement and the absence of a constructive political way forward.