During the seventh straight night of unrest in France, authorities reported that at least 72 people were arrested as clashes appeared to ease compared with the sharp spikes seen earlier in the week. The night’s activity showed a shift in the pattern of disturbances, with security forces maintaining a visible presence across major cities while attempting to prevent further escalations.
The government released overnight figures for Monday into Tuesday, indicating there have not been any major incidents at this moment. These numbers stand in clear contrast to the heavier surges recorded over the last weekend, when 157 incidents were logged on one night and about 400 incidents surfaced from Saturday to Sunday, underscoring a notable drop in violence in the most recent period.
Across the broader scene of destruction, authorities counted 159 vehicles set ablaze and damage to 24 public buildings in the attacks carried out by rioters, with 45,000 police and gendarmerie officers still deployed and guarding four police stations or security outposts that remained under heightened protection.
President Emmanuel Macron spoke at the Élysée Palace this morning, noting that more than 200 mayors had reported incidents and estimating the total cost at above 1,000 million euros, a figure reported by the Medef employers’ association. He emphasized that the turmoil is creating a significant financial and social burden across communities, businesses, and local governments.
In the economic fallout, more than 200 shops were looted and hundreds of financial institutions were affected, including 300 bank branches and 250 tobacconists, highlighting the wide-reaching impact on commerce and daily life across urban and suburban areas.
Officials stressed that the social crisis is beyond a single incident and is affecting France’s image and tourism as authorities seek to restore calm and confidence. The unrest followed the death of a 17-year-old who was fatally shot by a police officer while attempting to flee in a car without a license, a tragedy that has intensified discussions about policing, youth disengagement, and community safety efforts.
Macron, who visited several fire stations in Paris last night that were at the forefront of the riots, underscored the need to extinguish fires set by rioters and signaled a potential focus on social support measures, alongside possible penalties for families of minors involved in violence as part of the broader approach to deter further disorder.
According to Le Parisien, the president suggested that addressing first offenses could involve consequences for families, a stance described as a proportionate response to early unlawful behavior and aimed at preventing repeat offenses among youths.
Prime minister Elisabeth Borne, after meeting with opposition leaders yesterday, also held talks with the heads of the majority groups in parliament this morning to coordinate responses and policy measures aimed at stabilizing the situation and supporting affected communities.
ac/ig