France launches ‘massive’ law enforcement operation after weekend looting, PM says

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu declared a comprehensive police initiative on Monday, following a wave of violent riots and widespread looting that swept across France over the weekend. Demonstrators engaged in clashes with law enforcement in multiple cities on Saturday, resulting in buildings and vehicles being set ablaze, along with shop windows being smashed by masked individuals.

The unrest persisted in Paris on Sunday, with masked youths constructing barricades as police intervened, resulting in tear gas being deployed.

Lecornu divulged that the government had made two key decisions: a substantial criminal justice response, and a more meticulous legal action phase. Social media footage showed numerous alleged looters without masks, leading authorities to intensify their efforts. Nearly 200 investigators from the Paris Police Prefecture will scrutinize weekend images and footage to pinpoint suspects in the Paris region alone.

The Paris police prefect announced a dedicated team to review CCTV and shop surveillance camera footage, as well as social media posts.

The violence claimed over 2,400 arrests and injured hundreds of police officers, gendarmes, and firefighters across France. Prime Minister Lecornu also requested local authorities to implement "partial curfews" on Monday evening to curb potential further unrest. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez stated that police had "lost control" in certain cities during the chaos.

President Emmanuel Macron vowed that those responsible for the destruction would face consequences. "Those who looted must pay back; those who sought to bring down the Republic will be held to account," he stated in a televised address to the nation on Sunday night.