Newstalk Breakfast Newstalk Breakfast

Police clash with protesters across France

Oct 19, 2026 · 5m

Summary

Newstalk Breakfast reports on severe civil unrest in France, where over 2,000 people were arrested following clashes between protesters and police. Guest Jamie Smith-Mayer describes widespread looting and arson across major cities, noting that while hundreds of thousands marched peacefully, violent "casseurs" caused significant damage to businesses and public buildings. The discussion covers the political fallout, including accusations that police were underprepared and calls for the Interior Minister’s resignation, which President Macron has rejected to maintain public order.

Topics discussed

Sponsorship: Cove Home Security System Show Intro and France Protests Overview Reporter on the ground: Scale of demonstrations Details on violence, looting, and arson Identifying the perpetrators: 'Casseurs' and hooligans Police preparedness and Interior Minister's resignation offer Political blame game between right and left wings
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