French President Emmanuel Macron has called for "calm and order" and warned against further escalation after protests on Saturday turned into widespread rioting and looting across France.
Speaking from the Élysée Palace in Paris, President Macron addressed the nation, stating that "we all feel anger and shame" following the unrest. He distinguished between the "legitimate demands" of protesters and the actions of "those who destroyed, smashed and looted."
Around 550,000 demonstrators initially took to the streets for largely peaceful protests concerning rising fuel prices, the cost of living, and deteriorating public services. However, groups of rioters, some masked, set fire to cars and buildings in cities including Paris, Marseille, and Lille, where widespread looting also occurred.
Police have arrested approximately 2,400 people. France's interior ministry reported that about 1,000 police officers were injured on Saturday, with seven sustaining serious injuries. Tear gas, water cannon, and batons were used by riot police during the weekend's events.
President Macron stated that "nothing justifies" the "unbridled" violence and promised that those involved would face justice. He also announced that local prefects and mayors would collaborate to protect shops and buildings, and pledged "full transparency" regarding the police response.