🇫🇷 Emmanuel Macron called social media a threat to democracy and admitted that the French authorities were not prepared for the riots on October 17.
Speaking in Marseille, he said they "totally failed to foresee what happened" when unrest turned into arson, looting and clashes with police.
He noted that "many far-left groups began mobilizing early in the morning, which is unusual for them."
Macron added that social media draws young people into violence.
"They were used, especially in the 17th, to attract young people and older people to places where crimes, attacks and robberies took place," he said.
Photo: Macron and the mayor of Marseille who were affected by riots stand next to the Marian bust, which was attacked by vandals on October 17 right inside the city hall.