France seeks answers after police failure to contain rioting

A barricade burns on the Champs Elysees avenue Saturday, March 16, 2019 in Paris. French yellow vest protesters clashed Saturday with riot police near the Arc de Triomphe as they kicked off their 18th straight weekend of demonstrations against President Emmanuel Macron. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Inside view of the burned out remains of terrasse of the famed restaurant Le Fouquet's on the Champs Elysees the day after it was vandalized and set on fire during the 18th straight weekend of demonstrations by the yellow vests, in Paris, France, Sunday, March 17, 2019. Paris cleaned up one of the world's most glamorous avenues Saturday after resurgent rioting by yellow vest protesters angry at President Emmanuel Macron stunned the nation. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)

A top French security official is acknowledging that police failed to contain rioting in Paris during yellow vest protests and says the government is trying to avoid a repeat scenario.

Junior Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said Monday on RTL radio that police had prepared for an upsurge in violence but were "less reactive" Saturday than in previous demonstrations. He said they were notably more cautious about using rubber ball launchers because of numerous injuries they've caused.

Nunez and the interior minister are meeting Monday with President Emmanuel Macron.

Rioters set life-threatening fires, ransacked luxury stores and attacked police around the Champs-Elysees on Saturday. The sudden resurgence of violence came as the yellow vest movement demanding economic justice has been dwindling.

Calls are already circulating on social networks for new protests next Saturday.

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