2,400 arrests in France's worst street violence for decades | BBC News

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President Emmanuel Macron has tonight [music] addressed the nation about the disorder that swept the country yesterday. He said rioters from far-left fringe groups had joined with criminals to engage in unbridled violence and pledged the authorities would be unyielding

in dealing with them. Across the country, nearly a thousand police officers and firefighters were injured. The Interior Ministry says nearly 2,400 people were arrested. Civic buildings were targeted by protesters in many cities including Leil and Marseilles. And in

Lyon, a tourist office was set ablaze amid multiple clashes and looting. In Limoj, the 19th century town hall was badly damaged by fire. The biggest protests were in Paris where more than 100,000 people took to the streets. Police

used tear gas and water cannon to disperse the crowds. Shops were damaged and some were looted. daylight revealing the extent of the destruction. Here's our Paris correspondent, James Waterhouse. One of the most evocative images from these protests has

been of the 19th century town hall in Dimoj to the southwest being devoured by the flames. The blame for this destruction of French history, heritage has been squarely aimed at a violent minority of demonstrators. It's not stupidity. It's

hatred. Its hatred of this French flag saved from the flames just a little while ago. Its hatred of institutions, of school principles, of cops, of elected officials. In Paris and beyond, half a million people had filled cities across

France to protest over the future of their country. They were mostly peaceful, but as we saw in the capital, in the wings were those who wanted to take advantage of the disorder. And when the early evening arrived, they

did. The police seem to retreat in the face of what ministers are calling an organized network. The shops that have been hit have been completely gutted. Like this wine shop has been looted from top to bottom. And this

morning in Paris and across France, there is an anger. Few believe this was at the hands of the genuine protesters, but down to an opportunistic minority who came in and sought to rob and cause carnage. It was at

5:00 p.m. when this electric bike shop was plundered. With no one to stop them, dozens of masked lutters made several trips as they emptied the stock, even taking the time to browse. That's why he pushed here, then he

cut here. The owner, Hassan Ahmed, explains what he's lost. It's my life. Whole life here. It's my whole life. I can't I don't know. I don't know what I do. Do you know what you've lost? 100 100,000 plus.

With the arrival of daylight, it became apparent how the riers didn't discriminate with who or what they targeted. We felt completely safe with the gates closed. And then we heard the gates being lifted from all sides. I don't

know if someone hit me or how it happened. With an iron bar, I think they set the fire in the shop at the ground floor with people living just upstairs. Everything is closed because it's smashed. And you you've

seen protests before. France has seen protests before, but have you seen this damage before? Never. Never. And I'm I'm going to be very honest. I have been scared. Tonight, President Mron addressed the nation. Watching these images, we all

asked ourselves, what are they thinking? How can French people do this to France? Those who sought to bring down the republic will be held accountable. Upcoming presidential elections will determine France's future course, but this chapter has exposed the

strength of feeling over the challenges this republic faces and the depth of division on how to overcome them. James Waterhouse, BBC News, Paris. And our Europe editor, Katya Adler, is in Paris tonight. What is the mood there like

this evening, Katya? There's a real sense of disqu here, Jane. I mean, people across the country were shocked and unnerved by those scenes yesterday of looting and violence, ongoing scuffles, mainly here in Paris around these streets. I mean,

there are fleets of police cars that keep coming past here. That is still uh this evening. And the question on everyone's lips is what now? What next? Is our country broken? Absolutely not, said President Matt Khn tonight in

an address to the nation. He said they would be dealing with the perpetrators of violence and they would be dealing with the legitimate concerns of peaceful protesters. But Jane, everyone knows he's a president on his way out. So

many people here see him as a lame duck. In six months time, we've got elections to find his successor. They are hotly contested and that is adding to the febrile sense here in France. Yes, on the streets, but

also in politics. Parliament is really divided and [music] don't forget Vance's financial problems as well. Real pressure from investors to get down that spiraling government debt. But the government worried that if it cuts public services, you'll just have

more angry people coming out onto these streets. And it's not just France, though. We've seen protests elsewhere. Uh we're looking at clashes for a sixth day, for example, in the Albanian capital. That's right. those protests about cost of

living, worries like here in France, student protests, but also there allegations of government corruption. And we saw those protests get close to the area around Prime Minister Eddie Rama's offices today [music] with calls for his resignation. They were

violent protests. Now, Albania has applied to join the EU. the European Commission calling for calm there today and asking for Albania to respect the right of people to protest peacefully. But yes, also other demonstrations in Belgium, Italy, and

Portugal this weekend with more big days of protest planned here in France and in Italy in two weeks time. So I think we can say Europe is holding its breath.