Macron condemns false invasion claims

French President Emmanuel Macron rejected claims France has been invaded by migrants and Islamists, accusing foreign leaders of spreading false information about last weekend's unrest.

“We've had people saying we'd been invaded by hordes of migrants and Islamists, which is totally false.”

Weekend violence and arrests

Last weekend's demonstrations against cost of living, fuel prices and school conditions were accompanied by violence and looting in several French cities. Nearly two thousand four hundred people were arrested.

Trump and Netanyahu blamed migrants

US President Donald Trump blamed migrants, jihadists and communists for the violence at a Kansas rally on Monday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday France had given in to extremist Islam.

“France had given in to the invasion of extremist Islam.”

AI-generated images spread online

Macron condemned false images circulating online since the weekend and what he called foreign manipulation of information. He said AI-generated images showed scenes that never happened in France.

“We saw AI-generated images showing scenes that never happened in France.”

Saturday protests and security plans

Further demonstrations are planned across France on Saturday. Macron said anyone seeking to cause disorder will be stopped. A massive police deployment is planned and the military will support security forces.