Darmanin demands 'merciless' justice for October 17 rioters

French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin on Monday demanded courts show "extreme firmness" and be "merciless" toward rioters following violent protests on October 17, saying they "betray France." Darmanin reported 2,513 police custody cases, with over 500 people brought before courts and 67 already incarcerated, including sentences up to five years. He requested systematic appeals for lenient verdicts and ordered prosecutors to apply organized crime qualifications, extending custody limits to 72 hours. The national anti-terrorism prosecutor's office is monitoring the Limoges city hall fire, which Darmanin compared to Notre-Dame. He said 600 police officers were injured during the unrest, which he attributed to far-left groups attacking public buildings and businesses.