2,400 arrested as France reels from weekend chaos: monday briefing on what you need to know

Violence across French cities

Parisian cleaners began clearing broken glass, damaged bus shelters and burned cars in the early hours of Sunday. Sociologist Paolo Stuppia said some areas of the capital resembled a wasteland, while Socialist deputy mayor Lamia El Aaraje described the violence as unprecedented.

Authorities reported about 855 arrests in Paris and 2,400 nationwide. In Limoges, the town hall was set alight and its spire collapsed; in Marseille, people broke into the city hall.

Peaceful protests and policing

The unrest unfolded alongside demonstrations against France’s school system. Students have protested since September, demanding repairs to deteriorating buildings, smaller classes and changes to the university admissions system.

Journalist Angelique Chrisafis said peaceful protesters did not simply turn violent; in her account, authorities appeared to lose control and police were caught off guard. Crowd psychologists have found that forceful policing can provoke violence, while officers blocked a planned route across Paris citing risks of disorder.

Green leader Marine Tondelier said some cities were left exposed to rioters while peaceful demonstrators faced violence. She called for Paris police chief of staff Laurent Nuñez to resign, describing his handling of the weekend as a disaster.

Public anger and political strain

The protests and police response have highlighted a gap between Macron’s government and many people in France. Anger includes the cost of fuel and the broader cost of living, alongside concerns about education and young people’s prospects.

Some peaceful demonstrators fear the focus will shift from the large turnout to images of burning barricades. The article also describes the situation as a failure, citing Limoges mayor Guillaume Guérin, but its final sentence is cut off before the full quotation appears.

Other developments to watch

Pope Leo said he would gradually resume his activities, in his first appearance before the faithful since an operation to remove a cancerous lung tumour. In the UK, an unnamed well-known individual is seeking a permanent injunction against the Guardian and ITN over serious allegations.

US President Donald Trump dismissed press secretary Katie Zacharia after five days, making her the shortest-serving holder of the role in US history. Separately, Reform UK mayor Luke Campbell was reportedly questioned under caution by Humberside police over alleged sexualised images shown to a staff member. Microsoft has withdrawn from a major AI datacentre project backed by the UK government, citing concerns about power supplies.