Hanson warns France's riots will reach Australian cities unless mass migration ends

French authorities have reported 2,397 arrests and 997 injured police and gendarmes after a weekend of looting and arson. President Emmanuel Macron and his government blame ultra-left groups and criminals for the violence.

Rukshan Fernando
  |   October 18, 2026   |   News   |   Be the first to comment

 

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has warned Australians that the violence gripping France will arrive here unless mass migration is stopped, posting a stark message to X: "France is burning. End mass migration or the same will come to Australia."

It followed a longer warning she published on Sunday, as French cities counted the damage from Saturday's unrest.

"Australia cannot afford to repeat the mistake of mass migration which is tearing apart Europe," Senator Hanson wrote. "Countries like France, Germany, Belgium and the U.K. are all suffering because of mass migration. Unless Australia stops importing people who reject our democracy, our way of life and the values of Western civilisation, these riots will eventually be coming to Australian cities."

The unrest she pointed to erupted on Saturday 17 October at nationwide marches over rising prices and fuel costs, organised by the Yellow Vests and joined by students, teachers and unions.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez put the turnout at about 550,000, while the CGT union claimed 800,000.

Ministers have acknowledged the grievances. Education Minister Édouard Geffray said the voices of those marching "to carry various demands" had been "drowned out" by violence, in remarks translated from French and reported by Le Figaro. The paper said the demands centred on living costs and fuel prices, along with school funding.

The latest interior ministry figures record 2,397 arrests and 997 police and gendarmes injured, seven seriously. Fire gutted the 19th-century town hall in Limoges. Rioters also broke into Marseille's town hall and torched Lyon's tourist office.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu wrote on X that ultra-left groups had organised the violence and that criminals had joined in to loot and destroy. "We will not let ourselves be intimidated," he wrote, in remarks translated from French.

In a televised address on Sunday night, President Emmanuel Macron said, in remarks translated from French, that "seditionists from ultra-left groups, joined by many criminals" had unleashed unrestrained violence. "We all feel anger and shame tonight," he said, adding that protesters with "legitimate demands" must never be confused with "those who destroyed, smashed and looted".

French authorities have so far not released a breakdown of those arrested by nationality or migration status. Mr Nuñez said on Saturday, in comments reported by BFMTV, that most of those detained were adults.

Rebel News Australia chief reporter Avi Yemini said on X that France was "a FINAL WARNING to the West". "Get used to scenes of mobs draped in keffiyehs, waving Palestinian flags, burning and looting cities in the name of whatever the latest 'cause' happens to be. Or CLOSE YOUR BORDERS NOW," he wrote.

Others in France, including Reconquête leader Éric Zemmour, Nice mayor Éric Ciotti and RMC commentator Zohra Bitan, have shared footage and photos they say show protesters carrying Palestinian flags during the unrest. "In the riots you see more Palestinian flags than French flags," Mr Ciotti wrote, in remarks translated from French.

Ms Bitan posted a short clip she said showed a huge Palestinian flag being waved among protesters as Limoges town hall burned. We could not independently verify where and when it was filmed.

CNews aired live footage of the break-in at Marseille's town hall in which a Palestinian flag can be seen, and Israeli broadcaster i24 reported that some of those who forced their way in carried the flag.

Rukshan Fernando

Rebel News Australia Content Manager and Commentator

Rukshan Fernando is an Australian political commentator, filmmaker, and journalist. He is known for his on-the-ground coverage and livestreams of protests and social issues, with a strong focus on stories often overlooked by the mainstream media. As a Content Manager and Reporter with Rebel News Australia, Rukshan works alongside Australia Bureau Chief Avi Yemini to bring the other side of the story from down under.

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