Far-right attacks on demonstrators

Far-right activists attacked peaceful demonstrators in processions in Nice, Montpellier, Nancy, and about a dozen other cities on Saturday, according to reports. Videos shared on social media show men believed to be part of the far-right movement physically confronting demonstrators.

Incidents in Rouen and Nancy

In Rouen, a video from the online media Blast shows far-right activists, some with their faces covered, striking demonstrators. Police intervened but allowed the aggressors to leave, who then chanted slogans. In Nancy, masked individuals attacked demonstrators, threw projectiles, and sang the Marseillaise while positioned behind mobile gendarmes, according to a video from Libération.

Nice and legal consequences

In Nice, a hundred "masked far-right activists" gathered in the city center to "physically confront the demonstrators," the prefecture stated. Eleven people will be tried, including several with criminal records. Items such as masks, gloves, aerosol cans, and batons were found in their cars.

Interior Minister's response

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez denied that police and gendarmes allowed far-right activists to attack demonstrators, stating "No, certainly not." However, LFI accused law enforcement of "protecting far-right militias." Security services detected calls from far-right movements on social media, including "people from the identitarian movement" and "nationalists who wanted to go down into city centers to protect businesses."

Intelligence and police actions

The presence of identitarian groups on Saturday was an identified risk by intelligence services. Police and gendarmes "intervened numerous times to disperse, prevent clashes between the far-left and far-right when they observed fights," said Nuñez. However, the lack of arrests in videos has raised questions and criticism, especially from LFI officials.

Legal justification and arrests

The Interior Ministry explained that "far-right activists were not systematically arrested" to justify the law enforcement's actions. Police had a mission to prevent looting and end the excesses of the far-left movement during the processions, emphasized the Interior Minister. He asked prefects to file cases against far-right members for forming a group "with the intent to commit violence."

Court proceedings and evidence

Eleven individuals suspected of attempting to commit violence against demonstrators on Saturday will be tried for forming an association of wrongdoers with the intent to commit aggravated voluntary violence. A minor will be referred to the juvenile court, while ten adults will appear in court on Tuesday. Some of them had judicial records, including for acts of violence, and were found with items like masks, gloves, pepper sprays, and batons.

Violence and injuries in Nice

The prefecture stated that about a hundred far-right militants wearing masks gathered in Nice to "physically confront the demonstrators." By the end of the day, brawls occurred near the Old Town of Nice, resulting in three minor injuries treated by firefighters. Some videos show men dressed in black and masked rushing toward demonstrators.

Investigations in Montpellier and Rouen

Montpellier's mayor, Michaël Delafosse, denounced a "far-right militia" that "used violence against demonstrators" in his city. The prosecutor's office in Montpellier announced an investigation to "identify these individuals." An investigation into aggravated violence was also opened in Rouen after a video showed nationalist militants beating a man following the demonstration.

Court appearances in Nice

Following the confrontations on Saturday in Nice, ten individuals suspected of being affiliated with the far-right movement are to appear before the courts on Tuesday.