With a fateful election on the horizon, France lost control to rage and violence

French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the nation regarding unbridled violence that erupted during nationwide cost-of-living demonstrations. The unrest, which included the looting of hundreds of businesses and the burning of town halls, resulted in nearly 2,400 arrests and left almost 1,000 police and gendarmes injured, according to the interior ministry.

Macron stated that while there are protesters with legitimate demands, the government will be uncompromising toward the "agitators from ultra-left fringe groups" and delinquents who destroyed property.

In response to the clashes, Macron noted that local authorities have the power to ban certain rallies if necessary, though he did not announce a state of emergency or a curfew. While the President condemned the devastation, US President Donald Trump attributed the unrest to immigration, suggesting that France should close its borders to reassert control.

Separately, Indian Union Minister Kiren Rijiju alleged that a conspiracy similar to the one behind the violent incidents in France and Bangladesh was hatched by anti-India gangs and certain politicians to instigate youth. Rijiju stated that a change in the Indian government can only occur through elections.

Brief written by urgent.news from Haaretz, The Hindu, Malay Mail, Gulf News — 4 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.