On October 24, videos from Montpellier and Nice showed clusters of casually dressed, sometimes masked individuals confronting bigger groups during protests against rising living costs.
Some accounts called them patriots or nationalists defending against Antifa, while officials and others identified them as far-right or ultradroite militants seeking clashes or protecting businesses.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed their presence, and authorities made nearly 1,000 arrests nationwide to separate opposing sides amid the unrest.
