‘Anger and shame’: Macron denounces France’s nationwide rioting, looting

President Macron promises to increase security, but stops short of announcing a state of emergency or curfew.Published On 18 Oct 202618 Oct 2026French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed “anger and shame” over what he described as violent protesters’ attempts “to bring down the republic”.In a televised address to the nation on Sunday, Macron promised that rioters and looters would “pay for their crimes”, after Saturday saw some of the worst urban violence in France in years.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Photos: Protests across France spiral into looting, blazes and clasheslist 2 of 3Paris left reeling as student-led protests turn chaoticlist 3 of 3Why have France’s school protests become a wider political crisis?end of listThe country’s Interior Ministry said that nearly 2,400 people were arrested on Saturday, with about 1,000 police and gendarmes injured.Macron said there must be a distinction between protesters with “legitimate demands” and “those who destroyed, smashed, and looted”.The president pledged to launch a “crisis unit” to provide “urgent aid … for those who are going through difficult moments”. He added that “lessons will be learned” after the destr...