Rioters block entrance to Louvre after weekend of Islamist anarchy across France

The 143-year-old town hall in Limoges collapsing after being set on fire by rioters.

Islamist rioters on Monday surrounded and blocked the entrance to the Louvre in Paris, the latest escalation following a weekend of chaos and carnage across multiple cities in France, including the capital. 

The developments at the Louvre come after a violent weekend in Paris and throughout several major French cities that drew varying degrees of condemnation from French President Emmanuel Macron as well as the leading candidate to succeed him, Marine Le Pen. The two had diverging messages for the people of France.

Macron vowed in a nationally televised address, "Those who looted will have to pay for the damage, and those who sought to bring down the Republic will be held accountable." But he also drew criticism for questioning "How can French people do this to France?" Many critics pointed out the almost all of the violence and mayhem is being caused by migrants, some there illegally, and not native French citizens. The Palestinian flag is ubiquitous at riots throughout France as well as in other European countries.

The conservative Le Pen struck a different tone in her message, a video posted on social media that has racked up millions of views. "You saw yesterday our cities, our streets, our country, battered, mistreated, ransacked," the conservative firebrand said. "We are living through a profound crisis of trust, of authority that poses a threat to democracy. This observation must alert us: our country is caught in a vise, or even taken hostage, between violence and powerlessness." She also criticized Macron's lackluster response to the riots.

One of the most shocking scenes of the weekend was the sight of a town hall in the west-central city of Limoges engulfed in flames and eventually collapsing in ruin after being set on fire by rioters. The building dates back to the 1880s and in 1975 was designated a national historic monument. 

Meanwhile, some of the riots were highly organized, according to one French journalist, and targeted at Jewish residents and business owners. “They came prepared. They had the addresses of town halls," Paul Amar said during an appearance on French TV. "They had addresses of Jewish shop owners.  In a street in Marseille, all businesses owned by Jews were set on fire. Businesses run by Muslims weren’t” attacked, he said.

Americans across the pond watched with horror at what unfolded across France over the weekend, with President Trump weighing in about the crisis twice on Truth Social, posting remarks that echo the thoughts and concerns of many Americans who fear a similar fate for the U.S.

"The migrants have taken over France," Trump said in a post on Truth Social Monday morning. "They must CLOSE THE BORDERS, FAST!" That short comment followed remarks the president made Sunday in which he said, "France is burning! The immigration of people from an entirely different world, people with hatred in their hearts, has shattered that once great country. Close your Borders and take control, before it is too late!"

For more on the groups organizing and funding the riots, watch the video below.