After the worst night of nationwide riots in protest of a police shooting of a teenager, French President Emmanuel Macron convened his cabinet for a second crisis meeting in two days on Friday.
Authorities reported hundreds of police injuries and arrests as rioters clashed with officers in towns and cities around France and burned buildings, vehicles, and stores.
On Thursday night, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin tweeted that police made 667 arrests.
Violence struck Marseille, Lyon, Pau, Toulouse, Lille, and portions of Paris, notably the working-class neighborhood of Nanterre, where 17-year-old Nahel M., Algerian and Moroccan origin, was shot dead on Tuesday during a traffic stop.
Police reported 249 injuries nationwide.
Macron, who has not declared a state of emergency, flew back early from a European summit in Brussels to meet with his cabinet at 1100 GMT.
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne tweeted that the violence was “intolerable and inexcusable” and supported police and firefighters “bravely carrying out their duties.”
Western nations cautioned French nationals to be careful.
On Thursday, the U.S. embassy tweeted that Americans “should avoid mass gatherings and areas of significant police activity.” At the same time, U.K. officials advised Britons to monitor media, avoid protests, and check travel advice.
Social media showed metropolitan areas burning nationwide. Lyon’s tram was burned, and Aubervilliers’ 12 buses were gutted.
Transit Minister Clement Beaune told RMC radio he would not rule out closing the capital’s public transit network early Friday.
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