The police and rioters who fought running street battles in France last weekend were de facto proxies for populist leaders Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Mélenchon. Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) and Mélenchon’s France Unbowed (LFI) are the public faces of more radical groups – referred to as ultra-right and ultra-left – on the fringes of their parties.

A majority of French security forces support Le Pen. Mélenchon participated in a peaceful protest march in Paris on October 17th but stands accused by the centrist government and the French right of having instigated the violence. The investigative website Médiapart reported that interior minister Laurent Nuñez asked the domestic intelligence service to falsely accuse LFI of responsibility.

Mélenchon’s supporters claim that French president Emmanuel Macron’s contempt for the underprivileged and police brutality provoked the unrest.

Six protesters have been maimed in recent weeks, including two last Saturday. A 17-year-old girl lost an eye in Mulhouse and a maths student, also aged 17, lost his right hand in Saint-Étienne. Tear gas, anti-encirclement and stun grenades used by the CRS riot police destroyed dozens of eyes and hands during the 2018/9 yellow vests revolt.

League of Ireland: Shamrock Rovers win title as Shelbourne beat Bohs

Well-known Co Limerick private school Glenstal Abbey set to close

Tributes paid to musician Dónal Lunny after his death aged 79

Storm Boelo: Ireland braces for second storm and ‘intense rain’ as cleanup continues after Austen

Prime minister Sébastien Lecornu said it was “a miracle” that no one was killed, but two corpses found on the margins of the riots remain unexplained. Videos showing riot........

© The Irish Times