By Sybille de La Hamaide, Clotaire Achi and Abdul Saboor
“Looking at these images, we have all asked ourselves: What was going through their minds? How can French people do this to France?
Macron said in a televised address to the nation. Macron said those protesting peacefully had legitimate grievances and their actions should not be confused with those seeking to wreak havoc. PARIS/LIMOGES, – President Emmanuel Macron appealed for calm on Sunday, a day after France suffered one of its worst days of unrest in years, with thousands arrested and shops looted or damaged after protests over high prices and declining public services.
Police made 2,400 arrests across France, while nearly 1,000 officers were injured, French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said.
He stopped short of declaring a state of emergency, as demanded by some right-wing politicians, but said the government would act to allow prefects to ban protests if necessary to protect public buildings and local businesses. The government has blamed the violence on what it said were ultra-left groups, as well as criminals it said had instigated the looting. A Reuters witness said there appeared to be several hundred protesters in the area. “Those who break things will pay, repair the damage and be held accountable for their intention to sow chaos,” Lescure said in a statement.
One protester died on Saturday after suffering a cardiac arrest during demonstrations in Paris. Police again clashed with protesters and fired tear gas at Place de la Republique on Sunday afternoon, and protesters had set fire to piles of bicycles. Economy Minister Roland Lescure pledged support on Sunday for business owners who suffered losses.
