• Source:JND
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France Protests: France has been rocked by a disturbing series of incidents after pig heads, some scrawled with the surname “Macron,” were discovered outside several Paris mosques. The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed that at least two mosques in the capital and one just outside the city limits were targeted, sparking widespread condemnation and an urgent police investigation.

For France’s Muslim community, the largest in Europe, numbering over six million, the act carries profound symbolism. In Islam, pigs are considered impure, and pork consumption is strictly forbidden. 

Paris police chief Laurent Nunez announced that an inquiry had been opened, vowing that “all means are being mobilised” to identify and punish the perpetrators. Surveillance footage reportedly shows a suspect placing a pig head outside a mosque in the 20th arrondissement, filming it repeatedly before leaving the scene.

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Possible Foreign Interference

Authorities are not ruling out wider geopolitical dimensions. Nunez cautioned that while it was too early to draw conclusions, parallels could be drawn with recent incidents of “foreign interference.” Earlier this year, three Serbian nationals were charged over vandalism of Jewish sites in France, an act investigators suspect had ties to Russian influence operations.

What's Behind France Protests?

The attacks also come at a moment of domestic unrest. France was gripped this week by nationwide protests under the “Block Everything” movement, with demonstrators clashing with police, setting fires, and disrupting transport networks. 

 - Prime Minister Francois Bayrou lost a parliamentary confidence vote on Monday.

 - Bayrou had announced sweeping austerity measures, including: Cutting public holidays, Freezing pensions

 - Following his defeat, Bayrou resigned from office.

Rapid Leadership Change

 - On Tuesday, President Emmanuel Macron appointed Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu as the new prime minister.

 - Lecornu became the fourth prime minister in just 12 months.

 - The swift reshuffle fuelled public anger, with many accusing Macron of ignoring widespread discontent.

- Unions and organisers argued Bayrou’s resignation did not resolve their grievances.

 - Rise of the “Block Everything” Movement

  -Gained traction online through TikTok, X, and encrypted messaging apps.

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80,000 Police Deployed, 200 Arrested

Protesters clashed with police across Paris and other French cities in a bid to pressure President Emmanuel Macron’s new prime minister, Sebastien Lecornu. Demonstrators blocked roads, lit fires, and faced volleys of tear gas, though their goal to “Block Everything” fell short. Despite the deployment of 80,000 police, hotspots of unrest persisted, with incidents including a bus set ablaze in Rennes and train services disrupted by power line damage.