Rioters rampaged through the streets of France for a fourth night. The map above shows where the main incidents took place
France on red alert: Macron faces calls to impose 'state of emergency' after marauding gangs with GUNS are seen rampaging in Marseille and police HQ is ransacked in fourth night of chaos
- President Macron has been warned that riots could become 'widespread'
President Macron was last night facing calls to impose a state of emergency after marauding gangs of rioters - some armed with stolen rifles - clashed with police in a fourth night of mayhem.
Thousands of looters ransacked some of France's major cities as local police declared they were now at 'war' with 'savage hordes of vermin' - with officers from two of the country's biggest policing unions now threatening to revolt.
Britain's Foreign Office issued an alert to tourists thinking of travelling to France, as the violence continued to deepen.
Large parts of France are engulfed by fires, violence and devastating riots.
Firefighters were seen desperately hosing down a burnt bus as unrest continued in France
A person stands near a burning container
Riot policemen arrest a man during clashes with police on the Lyon streets as violence continues to erupt in France
A man gestures next to a burning container in Paris as protests grip France
Protesters clash with CRS riot police at the Porte d'Aix in Marseille, southern France
Rioters were rampaging through the streets of Marseille, Lille and Paris, looters broke into a gun shop and stole hunting rifles while others ransacked a police station. Cars, buses and government buildings have been set alight, while fireworks have been launched at police.
There were more than 3,800 fires on public roads last night, while more than 500 buildings were set alight.
Emmanuel Macron green lit the use of armoured vehicles and riot police, as 45,000 officers were deployed in a desperate attempt to regain control. But the French president has been blasted for not acting fast enough.
Eric Ciotti, the head of the Republicans party said his country 'is on the edge of a precipice' and that 'we must wage a merciless war against violence and proclaim a state of emergency in all affected areas', as he launched a political broadside against Macron.
Domestic intelligence seen by French newspaper Le Monde has also warned the president that riots could become increasingly 'widespread' and continue for the 'coming nights'.
French police have said that they are currently 'at war' with 'savage hordes of vermin', as violence continued throughout the evening.
Two of the country's biggest police unions have threatened a revolt unless Mr Macron restores order.
They said: 'Today the police are in combat as we are at war. Tomorrow we will be in resistance and the government should be aware of this.'
Armed police officers stand guard during riots
French riot police officers patrol during a demonstration in Caen, north-western France. French President Emmanuel Macron has announced measures including more police and urged parents to keep minors off the streets
Tensions between youths and police have reached boiling point, with French journalists reporting that the elite tactical unit, RAID, has been deployed in areas of the country to try and halt the violence.
Protesters run from launched tear gas canisters during clashes with police in Lyon, south-eastern France
The comments come after claims by the unions, Alliance Police, Nationale and UNSA Police that the response so far from Mr Macron's government had been far too weak.
They wrote: 'Faced with these savage hordes, calling for calm is no longer sufficient, it must be imposed!'
At least 917 people are thought to have been arrested by law enforcement officers since last night.
Tensions between youths and police have reached boiling point, with French journalists reporting that the elite tactical unit, RAID, has been deployed in areas of the country to try and halt the violence.
British tourists were today warned about travelling in France as the country imposed curfews and traffic shutdowns to try and quell nationwide rioting.
The Foreign Office on Friday updated its travel advice as a response to the violence, saying: 'Some local authorities may impose curfews. Locations and timing of riots are unpredictable.
'You should monitor the media, avoid areas where riots are taking place, check the latest advice with operators when travelling and follow the advice of the authorities.'
Widespread looting has also taken place in Marseille, with France Bleu Provence reporting that hunting rifles were stolen from an armory during the riots in Marseille.
A woman is searched by riot police near Opera Garnier in Paris
Protesters set a container on fire amid the unrest in France
A group of police officers walk during a protest in Nanterre, outside Paris, France
At least 917 people have been arrested by law enforcement officers since last night
The store manager describes having seen '30 determined kids' and that his stock 'is no longer secured'
One individual was arrested with a rifle that came from the store, police said. The store is now being guarded by police.
Authorities earlier banned demonstrations in the city, and encouraged restaurants to close outdoor areas early. They said public transport would stop at 7 pm
'The next hours will be decisive and I know I can count on your flawless efforts,' Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin wrote to firefighters and police officers, seeking to quell the unrest that has been breaking out after nightfall.
He asked local authorities to halt bus and tram traffic from 9pm (1900 GMT) across France and later said 45,000 officers from the police forces would be deployed on Friday evening, 5,000 more than on Thursday.
A riot policeman walks past two burnt out vehicle as rioters set France on fire
French anti-riot police officers stand guard after a group of protesters lit fires in Bordeaux
British tourists were today warned about travelling in France as the country imposed curfews and traffic shutdowns to try and quell nationwide rioting
Asked on TF1's main evening television news programme whether the government could declare a state of emergency, Darmanin said: 'Quite simply, we're not ruling out any hypothesis and we'll see after tonight what the President of the Republic chooses.'
Macron reportedly left a European Union summit in Brussels early to chair a second cabinet crisis meeting - the French equivalent of a Cobra meeting - in two days.
He has asked social media to remove 'the most sensitive' footage of rioting and to disclose identities of users fomenting violence.
The French president told parents to keep their children at home after it emerged young people accounted for a third of the arrests made.
He said: 'It is the parents' responsibility to keep them at home and therefore it's important for everyone's peace of mind that parental responsibility is fully exercised. It's not the republic's job to replace fathers and mothers.'
Darmanin met representatives from Meta, Twitter, Snapchat and TikTok.
Snapchat said it had zero tolerance for content that promoted violence.
Mr Macron said social media was fuelling copycat violence, and that platforms such as Snapchat and TikTok needed to remove 'the most sensitive content'.
He said: 'We sometimes have the feeling that some young people are living in the streets of the video games that have intoxicated them.'
The President also urged parents to keep teenagers at home, rather than let them out looking for trouble.
French riot police stand guard during clashes in Lyon
A protester moves a metal barrier during a demonstration in Caen
Tensions have spilled into other cities after tensions reached boiling point
Firefighters put out a burning car during protests in Lille
'It is the parents' responsibility to keep them at home,' said Mr Macron. 'And therefore, it is important for everyone's peace of mind that parental responsibility can be fully exercised.'
Fresh pleas from French footballing icon Kylian Mbappe have also called on protesters to stop the chaos.
'It is your property that you are destroying, your neighborhoods, your cities."
In Nanterre on the outskirts of the Paris protesters torched cars and buses, barricaded streets and hurled projectiles at police.
The interior ministry said 79 police posts were attacked overnight, as well as 119 public buildings including 34 town halls and 28 schools.
A black-clad protester is seen perched atop a traffic sign
Protesters throw fireworks at riot police
Firefighters extinguish burning vehicles
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