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Not yet reviewed by a lawyer. Sourced information, to be confirmed.

Far-right attacks

Key points

  • Attacks often happen after dispersal: come and leave as a group.
  • Badges and flags in your bag on the way.
  • Don't respond to provocation; if attacked, move towards the crowd and call 17 or 112.
  • Afterwards: medical certificate, witnesses, videos, complaint; write down the exact racist or homophobic insults.

Violent far-right groups attack marches or isolated protesters, often after dispersal. In October 2026, violence was reported on the sidelines of protests in around fifteen French cities.12 This guide is about not becoming a target and reacting if it happens, not about seeking confrontation.

Before

  • Ask the organisers and the legal team whether groups are expected in your city.
  • Come as a group and plan to go back together (never stay alone, getting there and back).
  • Keep badges, stickers and flags in your bag on the way: they make you identifiable once away from the march.

During

  • Stay in the march, near the stewards; tell them about any masked or hostile group.
  • Don't give chase and don't respond to provocation: you risk injury and prosecution.
  • If you film, do it from a distance and with others (film the police).

If you are attacked

  1. Get away towards the crowd, an open shop, a station; protect your head.
  2. Shout to draw attention, call 17 or 112.
  3. Get treated by street medics or A&E (first aid).

Afterwards

  • Have your injuries recorded by a doctor (certificate with ITT) and gather videos and witnesses.
  • File a complaint. Violence committed as a group, with a weapon or with racist, antisemitic or homophobic insults is punished more severely: write down the exact words used.34
  • If the police did not intervene, note the time, place and unit present, and refer it to the Défenseur des droits.
  • Associations can support you: LICRA, SOS Racisme, SOS homophobie, and France Victimes on 116 006.
  • Online threats or calls to violence: report them on PHAROS (online harassment).

Several far-right groups have been dissolved for their violence, such as the GUD in 2024.5

Resources in the directory

In one of these situations? threatened or attacked by the far right

Sources

Each note links to the source of the information. Most sources are in French. Laws change: check the date of the source and, if in doubt, ask a lawyer.

  1. franceinfo — Violences de l'ultradroite en marge des manifestations du 24 octobre · AI-sourced on · awaiting human check ↩

  2. L'essentiel — Manifestations en France : l'extrême droite s'en prend aux cortèges · AI-sourced on · awaiting human check ↩

  3. Cabinet ACI — Violences en réunion : aggravation et peines · AI-sourced on · awaiting human check ↩

  4. Justifit — Le racisme, circonstance aggravante des crimes et délits · AI-sourced on · awaiting human check ↩

  5. Public Sénat — Le GUD et trois autres groupuscules dissous par le gouvernement · AI-sourced on · awaiting human check ↩

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