Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster email
Britain and other European countries could be hit by riots on the scale France is currently experiencing, Francois Hollande has said.
The former French president said the unrest, initially triggered by killing of Nahel Merzouk by a police officer, had been exacerbated by economic and social problems.
Mr Hollande claimed the riots were in part spreading through a social media “domino effect” and that this would not respect borders.
“Those people who sometimes look at us with a little irony should tell themselves that the same thing could happen there,” he told the Times newspaper.
“The images [of the riots] do not only circulate between Paris, Lyon and Marseilles, they also circulate in the towns and cities of the UK, Germany, the US.”
The former Socialist Party head of state, held office from 2012 to 2017, said those taking to the streets had been motivated by “a desire to go and get goods that you cannot buy in ordinary times”.
He claimed in his analysis that some participants saw the protests as “an opportunity … to break into shops and take everything inside”.
This urge had been exacerbated by inflation and Co lockdowns which had caused social dysfunction among some French youth, he said.
Nahel Merzouk, who was 17-years-old, was shot dead by a police officer during a traffic stop on Tuesday, triggering days of fierce clashes.
More than 700 people were arrested following his funeral on Saturday as police fired tear gas and fought street battles with protestors late into the night in flashpoint Marseilles.
UK news in picturesShow all 501/50UK news in pictures
UK news in pictures7 July 2023
Andy Murray of Great Britain plays a backhand against Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece in the Men’s Singles second round match during day five of The Championships Wimbledon 2023 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
Getty
UK news in pictures6 July 2023
Queen Camilla during a visit to Lochcarron of Scotland at the Waverley textile mill in Selkirk, in the Scottish Borders, as part of the first Holyrood Week since the King’s coronation.
PA
UK news in pictures5 July 2023
Anti-monarchy protesters hold placards near the St Giles’ Cathedral on the day of the National Service of Dedication and Thanksgiving for Britain’s King Charles, in Edinburgh
Reuters
UK news in pictures4 July 2023
Andy Murray celebrates break point against Ryan Peniston in their men’s singles first round match at Wimbledon
Getty
UK news in pictures3 July 2023
A cigar smoked by Winston Churchill, which is expected to fetch £600-800 is pictured on his statue in Westerham, Kent
PA
UK news in pictures2 July 2023
England’s Ben Stokes hits a six off the bowling of Australia’s Josh Hazlewood during the last day of the second Ashes test at Lords Cricket Ground in London
Action Images via Reuters
UK news in pictures1 July 2023
Pata Yamaha Prometeon rider Toprak Razgatiloglu followed by Aruba.It Racing – Ducati rider Alvaro Bautista (right) during the World SBK race 1 on day two of the FIM Superbike World Championship 2023 at Donington Park, Derby
PA
UK news in pictures30 June 2023
Rembrandt Harmensz’s Portrait of Jan Willemsz, van der Pluym and Jaapgen Carels is held by gallery staff, during a photo call for highlights from the forthcoming Classic Week Sales, at Christie’s, London.
PA
UK news in pictures29 June 2023
A visitor walks through a part of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama’s installation “You, Me and The Balloons” during a preview ahead of the start of the Manchester International Festival
Reuters
UK news in pictures28 June 2023
England player Jonny Bairstow carries a “Just Stop Oil” pitch invader during day one of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s Cricket Ground
Getty
UK news in pictures27 June 2023
A Dolly Parton impersonator banned from Facebook protests outside the offices of parent company Meta in King’s Cross, London, as part of their “Stop Banning Us” appeal
Lucy North/PA
UK news in pictures26 June 2023
Glastonbury site clean-up operation in progress
PA
UK news in pictures25 June 2023
Lil Nas X performs on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury
AFP via Getty
UK news in pictures24 June 2023
Chemical Brothers perform beneath the Arcadia spider in the very early morning at the Glastonbury Festival
PA
UK news in pictures23 June 2023
A performer entertains festivalgoers in the circus field at Glastonbury festival
AFP/Getty
UK news in pictures22 June 2023
Ladies Day at Royal Ascot Racecourse
AP
UK news in pictures21 June 2023
Katherine Jenkinson from Carlisle with her jersey calf in the wash bay at the Royal Highland Centre in Ingliston, Edinburgh, ahead of the Royal Highland Show
PA
UK news in pictures20 June 2023
The sunrises at 04.25am at St Mary’s Lighthouse in Whitley Bay, on the North East coast of England, the day before Summer Solstice – the longest day of the year
PA
UK news in pictures19 June 2023
The King and Queen depart the annual Order of the Garter Service
PA
UK news in pictures17 June 2023
Typhoon fighter jets fly over The Mall after the Royal family attended the Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade, central London, as King Charles III celebrates his first official birthday since becoming sovereign.
PA
UK news in pictures16 June 2023
A peregrine falcon nesting at Malham Cove, in the Yorkshire Dales National Park
PA
UK news in pictures15 June 2023
Newborn alpaca Sir Steveo, who has been named after one of his keepers, ventures outside in the Pets Farm area of Blair Drummond Safari Park near Stirling
PA
UK news in pictures14 June 2023
Grace Kumar’s father and Barnaby Webber’s brother, Charlie, embrace ahead of a vigil at the University of Nottingham after they and Ian Coates were killed and another three hurt in connected attacks on 13 June
PA
UK news in pictures13 June 2023
Police forensics officers on Ilkeston Road
PA
UK news in pictures12 June 2023
People relax in a suspended swimming pool as hot weather continues, in London
Reuters
UK news in pictures11 June 2023
Usain Bolt and teammates celebrate with the trophy after winning Soccer Aid 2023
Action Images via Reuters
UK news in pictures10 June 2023
A cyclist trains in the early morning, as hot weather continues, in Richmond Park, London
Reuters
UK news in pictures9 June 2023
A performer walks on a tightrope at Covent Garden during a sunny day in London
AP
UK news in pictures8 June 2023
A women rides her horse through the river during the Appleby Horse Fair
PA
UK news in pictures7 June 2023
The Princess of Wales during a game of walking rugby during her visit to meet local and national male rugby players at Maidenhead Rugby Club
PA
UK news in pictures6 June 2023
An aerial view shows the dry bed of Woodhead Reservoir, revealed by a falling water level after a prolonged period of dry weather, near Glossop, northern England
AFP/Getty
UK news in pictures5 June 2023
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak onboard Border Agency cutter HMC Seeker during a visit to Dover
PA
UK news in pictures4 June 2023
A hot air balloon rises into the sky above Ragley Hall, Alcester, south of Birmingham in central England
AFP via
UK news in pictures2 June 2023
Skaters use the mini ramp at the Wavelength Spring Classic festival in Woolacombe Bay in Devon
PA
UK news in pictures1 June 2023
The And Beyond installation, during a photo call for the London Design Biennale at Somerset House in London
PA
UK news in pictures31 May 2023
Emergency services attending to a blaze at a derelict listed building in Samuel Street, Belfast
PA
UK news in pictures30 May 2023
A robot named Stella interacts with visitors during the International Conference on Robotics and Automation ICRA in London
AP
UK news in pictures29 May 2023
Dave Hackett and his daughter Daisy, five, explore the laburnum arch in the grounds of Preston Tower, East Lothian, in the warm Spring Bank Holiday weather
PA
UK news in pictures28 May 2023
Great Britain’s Nick Bandurak scores their side’s third goal of the game during the FIH Hockey Pro League men’s match at Lee Valley, London
PA
UK news in pictures27 May 2023
People enjoy the sunny weather at a park in London
AP
UK news in pictures26 May 2023
People drink coffee inside Daleks during MCM Comic Con at the ExCel London in east London
PA
UK news in pictures25 May 2023
King Charles III and Queen Camilla during a visit to Enniskillen Castle, Co Fermanagh as part of a two day visit to Northern Ireland
PA
UK news in pictures24 May 2023
Horses enjoy the sunny weather on Middleham Gallops in North Yorkshire
PA
UK news in pictures23 May 2023
An aerial view of a yellow rapeseed field in Hemel Hempstead, Britain
Reuters
UK news in pictures22 May 2023
Manoj Malde and Clive Gillmor kiss after getting married, the first wedding ever at the Chelsea Flower Show
AP
UK news in pictures21 May 2023
People enjoy the warm weather as they take punt tours along the River Cam in Cambridge
PA
UK news in pictures20 May 2023
Protesters emerge from the sea as Surfers Against Sewage hold a UK-wide paddle-out protest at Brighton West Pier in East Sussex
PA
UK news in pictures19 May 2023
Good Karma ridden by Daniel Muscutt (right) wins the Earl & The Pharaoh Novice Stakes at Newbury Racecourse, Berkshire
PA
UK news in pictures18 May 2023
Choristers from the Choir of St John’s College at the University of Cambridge look out from the top of the Chapel Tower before performing the Ascension Day carol – a custom dating back to 1902.
PA
UK news in pictures17 May 2023
Oxfam activists wearing ‘big heads’ of G7 leaders during a demonstration in Trafalgar Square, London, highlighting their lack of action to tackle the East Africa hunger crisis ahead of the start of the G7 summit in Japan
PA
Police initially reported that one officer had shot at the teenager because he was driving his car towards him. But this version of events was quickly contradicted by a circulating on social media.
London and other cities in England endured days of widespread rioting in 2011 following the shooting of 29-year-old Mark Duggan by police in Tottenham.
