The Festival of Music Festival, which every year on June 21 transforms the streets and squares of France into open-air music venues, was again marred this year by serious incidents violence and widespread riots.
According to a preliminary report from the French Ministry of the Interior, at least 243 people were arrested across the country overnight, while nearly 150 arrests were made in Paris alone.
Despite the French government’s claim that the event concluded without “major disturbances,” reports of attacks and violent incidents were numerous. In the capital, new syringe attacks were reported, a phenomenon that had also caused serious concern during last year’s events.
At the same time, there were robberies, beatings, incidents of sexual violence, drug-related cases, as well as attacks involving improvised explosive devices and flares.
Two police officers sustained minor injuries during operations to restore order.
The unrest was not limited to Paris. In Toulouse and the surrounding areas, emergency services were called to respond to at least two incidents of knife attacks linked to the celebrations. Local media also broadcast footage of mass brawls, vandalism, and clashes between groups of young people in various cities across the country.
In preparation for the event, the Minister of the Interior had ordered the police and gendarmerie to intervene immediately in any incident of violence or disturbance of public order. In Paris alone, nearly 5,000 police officers had been deployed.
