Escalation on protest day Who rioted in France As of: October 21, 2026 • 10:52 a.m

The escalation of violence during the nationwide day of protests has severely shaken France. Who were the rioters and looters? For the Prime Minister the answer is clear, but the reality is more complex.

Fireworks, tear gas and looted shops: Saturday's escalation of violence continues to dominate the public debate in France. For Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, responsibility clearly lies with activists from the left-wing extremist scene. It is an approach that has never been done before: "We have seen it since the morning in Marseille, where a number of extreme, radical and ultra-leftists appeared in a swarm - and incited violence: organized methodically and digitally."

In connection with the burning of the Limoges town hall, a suspect was arrested who is classified as a left-wing extremist threat and is known for violent offenses.

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Overall, however, a more differentiated picture emerges. The chief prosecutor in Paris, Laure Beccuau, has not yet been able to confirm the government's reading. Because in police custody, many would not express their political beliefs at all, said Beccuau on TF1.

According to the authorities, two different groups are responsible for the riots in Paris. The afternoon rioters on the Place de la République had little to do with the looters from the night, emphasized French Justice Ministry spokesman Sacha Straub-Khan at France Info. There are two different profiles, one being the organized rioters. "They are committed to a political goal, usually located on the left spectrum." But there are also those who moved through the city centers and took advantage of the hours of chaos to loot. “These are other groups that are not politicized.”

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Overall, this corresponds to the observations of journalists on site - including those of the ARD team. According to prosecutor Beccuau, the second group came to the city parallel to the riots on the Place de la République. "The police noticed additional people at several train stations in Paris from around 4 p.m. - who obviously came to take advantage of the opportunity. And who were later involved in the robberies of shops."

According to Beccuau, so far the less severe cases have been evaluated. It turned out that many looters came from the Seine-Saint-Denis department, from Nanterre or Créteil, i.e. from the suburbs of Paris. They are characterized by migrants and many residents live below the poverty line.

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In addition, the profile of the looters is anything but uniform, said Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin on CNews. "The French must know that 95 percent of men are behind this crime." Young people were also arrested, but most, 70 percent of those arrested, were adults. "Among them are people with a migration history, people without French citizenship - but also people who are perfectly integrated, French. They were all there," said Darmanin.

This topic in the program: NDR Info | News | Oct 21, 2026 | 07:07 am