Key facts
- An estimated 2,000 shops were ransacked and looted across France.
- Nearly 2,400 people were arrested during the protests.
- Approximately 1,000 police and gendarmes were injured.
- The Louvre Museum was blocked by protesters on Monday.
France's interior minister conceded on Monday that police "lost control" in some cities during violent protests over the weekend, prompting President Emmanuel Macron to demand a full security review and "new operational methods" to end the rioting and looting. Laurent Nuñez stated that intelligence had underestimated the number of demonstrators, with over 500,000 people protesting nationwide, many of whom engaged in violent acts. Nuñez offered his resignation, which Macron declined, instead tasking him with addressing planning and intelligence failures. The protests, which began with high school students, saw public buildings attacked and an estimated 2,000 shops ransacked. Nearly 2,400 people were arrested, and about 1,000 police and gendarmes were injured. Rioting continued on Sunday, with Paris alone arresting 350 people overnight. The Louvre Museum was also blocked by protesters on Monday, preventing its scheduled opening.