Macron Enjoys Céline Dion as France Erupts in Riots

Macron attends a Céline Dion concert before riots erupt across France, leaving buildings burned, 1,800 arrested and Jewish businesses allegedly targeted.

French President Emmanuel Macron spent Friday evening enjoying a Céline Dion concert with his wife, Brigitte. By Saturday, much of France was dealing with burning cars, looted stores, and rioters attacking government buildings.

Macron and his wife were spotted in a private box at Friday’s concert outside Paris. Brigitte was singing and dancing, apparently having a wonderful time. The couple kept their arrival and departure quiet, though someone still managed to get footage of them.

Macron at a Celine Dion concert as France burns to the ground. pic.twitter.com/sMo6Dpxwsl

French authorities put Saturday’s crowd at 550,000. The unions claimed 800,000. Either way, the streets were packed. Students had been protesting for weeks over lousy school conditions and a lack of teachers. By Saturday, they had plenty of company. Union members, Yellow Vests, and people angry about their pensions and grocery bills all showed up.

🇫🇷 Footage from central Paris today amid intense rioting across France. pic.twitter.com/Q8YnbJmh2a

Police in Paris faced masked mobs throwing projectiles and setting barricades alight. Banks and shops had their windows broken. Several luxury retailers were looted, along with a mobile phone store. Marseille’s city hall was stormed and vandalized. Lyon’s tourism office burned.

🇫🇷 A looter of African descent gets flattened by a window panel amid ongoing riots in France. pic.twitter.com/xs4duh6joB

🇫🇷 ALERTE, Des PILLAGES sont signalés au centre commercial Westfield Rosny 2, en Seine-Saint-Denis. (témoins) pic.twitter.com/CfWKY2ASO4

Little of the roof remains on Limoges’ city hall. The building is more than a century old, and somebody decided to torch it Saturday. The local prefect said the fire was deliberate. It came close to taking the entire building.

Sunday’s police report brought the number of arrests to at least 1,800. More than 500 officers, gendarmes and firefighters had been injured. Paris police also confirmed a death from a heart attack, although the circumstances were still under investigation.

עוד עדות של בעלת עסק שאיבדה את כל עולמה. פה מדובר באלין לי (במקור הואנג) בת 50. דור שני או שלישי למהגרים מסין. היא דוברת צרפתית מושלמת עם מבטא פריזאי מושלם. את המסעדה הקטנה הזו ברובע העשירי קנתה לפני 7 שנים מיהודי זקן ממוצא אלג׳יראי (בשם ר. חנונה). אלין מספרת שלקראת השעה 14:30…

The accounts out of Marseille included something far worse than another trashed storefront.

On CNews, veteran French journalist Paul Amar said attackers had addresses of Jewish-owned shops before the violence began. He also said there was a street where Jewish businesses burned, and Muslim businesses did not.

“They came prepared. They had the addresses of town halls. They had addresses of Jewish shop owners.

In a street in Marseille, all businesses owned by Jews were set on fire. Businesses run by Muslims weren’t” pic.twitter.com/zudahbmw7p

In a street in Marseille, all businesses owned by Jews were set on fire. Businesses run by Muslims weren’t.”

Macron condemned the destruction Saturday, promising to prosecute those responsible.

Ceux qui ont cassé, attaqué les préfectures comme les commerces, pillé jusqu’à nos mairies, seront poursuivis et punis.

Aux forces de l’ordre, garantes du droit à manifester, je dis le soutien de la Nation.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu blamed the “ultra-left” and criminals. Police unions reported officers were attacked with bricks and clubs, with the UNSA union warning its members were approaching their limit.

Far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon complained that police had blocked demonstrators from Place de la République, accusing authorities of provoking confrontations.

Spanish journalist reports live from French streets. A bunch of foreigners swarm her and make throat slitting gestures to intimidate pic.twitter.com/bcUfahXfOm

By Sunday, protesters had also been spotted near the Louvre, raising fears the violence could reach one of the world’s most iconic cultural landmarks.

🇫🇷 Oh no, not this! Protesters in Paris are already near the Louvre

Is the world's most visited and oldest art museum under threat? Judging by the footage we've seen earlier, anything is possible.

French cities have literally turned into war zones over the weekend. Macron is… pic.twitter.com/5hlPXhbiB3

Meanwhile, demonstrators were gathering again at Place de la République. Macron was preparing to meet with his ministers and deliver a televised speech at 8 p.m.

Quite a weekend. Friday night, Céline Dion. Saturday, burning barricades. Sunday, an emergency address.