Riots in France: Weapons of war spotted in the hands of looters

The violence that erupted in Paris on the sidelines of the weekend’s demonstrations is raising new concerns about the level of armament among certain groups involved in the looting. According to information received by the Journal du Dimanche from the General Directorate for Internal Security, individuals were reportedly seen with automatic weapons, including Kalashnikov-type rifles and Scorpion submachine guns.

Similar sightings of these weapons were observed in Lyon and Marseille.

According to the report, those involved include both minors and adults. Some suspects are said to have been apprehended, while others are still at large.

However, the precise circumstances under which these weapons were observed, as well as the number of people involved, have not yet been independently verified.

The scenes of looting on Saturday, October 17, affected several areas of the capital, notably around Place de la République and Boulevard Magenta. Shops were ransacked and emptied of their goods, while vehicles and trash bins were set on fire.

Police officers were also confronted by large and violent groups, complicating their interventions.

According to a provisional report from the Paris prosecutor’s office, 855 people were arrested in the capital during Saturday’s violence. By midday Sunday, 557 people were still in police custody.

Some of the cases involved the carrying of weapons or possession of explosives, although these figures do not confirm the presence of Kalashnikovs or Scorpion submachine guns among the rioters.

The French government is now under pressure after this violence, with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu calling for the implementation of targeted curfews in the hardest-hit areas. President Emmanuel Macron has requested a review of the failures in anticipating the unrest and in the deployment of law enforcement forces.