French authorities have launched a sweeping investigation into a weekend of violent protests that shook the country, with about 2,500 people arrested so far as investigators track those who set fire to public buildings and vandalized or looted shops.
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu told parliament the previous day that authorities had gathered a vast amount of evidence, images and video, and that many more arrests of thieves and others were possible in the coming days, according to The Wall Street Journal on the 21st.
2,500 Arrested, Including a 13-Year-Old
French authorities are identifying additional participants using closed-circuit television and video posted on social media. In Paris alone, 200 investigators have been assigned to analyze the footage.
About 2,500 people have been detained across France to date. Of those, 95% are male, with adults accounting for 70% and minors 30%. One of those arrested was 13 years old, and many were already known to police or judicial authorities.
The courts are also moving quickly. On the 20th, suspects accused of stealing goods from shops appeared one after another before courts across France. They are accused of looting merchandise from luxury and sportswear brands including Louis Vuitton, Lacoste and Nike.
The Paris court doubled the number of courtrooms handling summary trials as cases piled up. More than 40 hearings tied to the violence were scheduled for that day alone. Analysts say the unrest is adding further pressure to a French judicial system already struggling with its caseload.
From Looted Luxury Stores to a Torched City Hall
Investigations are also continuing into arson attacks targeting public buildings, not just shops.
Police arrested a man on suspicion of setting fire to the city hall in Limoges, in central France. The man is linked to far-left activism and had been under surveillance after being classified as a potential threat, according to reports.
Those involved in the violence varied widely in background and age. Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin said in an interview with CNEWS that the participants included French nationals as well as immigrants.
Jean-Christophe Couvy, a spokesman for a police union, said the crowd was a varied mix that included undocumented immigrants, young people with jobs and minors.
Details of several suspects that Darmanin disclosed on the 19th also drew attention. A 46-year-old man is accused of smashing a clothing store and fleeing with stolen garments. A 19-year-old was found hiding in a fitting room of a looted shop, and a 34-year-old repeat offender was arrested after resisting police.
Groups of up to 200 Descended, Then Vanished
As a nighttime curfew and other crackdowns gradually calmed the streets, the circumstances behind the spread of the violence have begun to emerge.
Lecornu said the protesters' movements defied police expectations. Unlike typical demonstrations, in which clashes intensify toward the end, attacks on police officers and government buildings began early in the gatherings this time. Some attacks occurred before the protests had even started in earnest.
Insufficient police deployment was also cited as a factor that worsened the damage. Authorities underestimated the scale of the protests, and while officers were responding to violent demonstrators, other groups looted shops.
Evidence has also emerged suggesting the looting may have been organized in advance. Lecornu said some groups had coordinated through social media, and that they included young people and minors who took part without any political motive.
According to Couvy, some looters rode scooters to scout areas in advance before summoning others. He said groups of 50, 100 and as many as 200 would descend on a store, strip it completely and leave within moments.
There were also suggestions that some young people treated the violence and looting as a form of entertainment. Couvy said that for some, it was a choice between this and Disneyland, and that they likely preferred this because it was free.