At the first rally of the right-wing extremist presidential candidate Eric Zemmour on Sunday, there were violent attacks on journalists and activists of the organization "SOS Racisme".

SOS Racism spokesman Dominique Sopo said Monday on France Info radio that he did not expect such levels of violence.

"The brutality was unimaginable," he said.

Michaela Wiegel

Political correspondent based in Paris.

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Activists from his organization had come to the election rally, according to Sopo, to “peaceful protest” and held up posters in the back tiers saying “No to racism”.

Young Zemmour supporters beat them and threw chairs at them.

Five of them were injured.

“I expect the judiciary to pursue the perpetrators,” said Sopo.

Renson: Zemmour is sowing chaos

"Zemmour legitimizes the violence," said the socialist party leader Olivier Faure.

The socialist presidential candidate Anne Hidalgo condemned the “unbearable violence”: “This violence has no place in our republic.” The Vice President of the National Assembly, Hugues Renson (LREM) accused Zemmour of dividing the country.

"He pretends to restore order, but is sowing chaos," said Renson.

Zemmour claimed in his campaign speech that he was being persecuted by "a pack of politicians, journalists and jihadists". Zemmour's election campaign staff said the presidential candidate was injured on the wrist in a brawl at the beginning of the event. The 63-year-old politician was forcibly grabbed by the hand by a man on the way to the stage. After the incident, Zemmour was celebrated by thousands of supporters. The team of a critical TV show was booed and taken out of the hall by security forces.

In Paris, according to the prefecture, around 2,200 people protested against Zemmour, whom they accused of racism.

An alliance of dozens of trade unions, parties and associations had called for the demonstration.

The organizers said there were 10,000 participants.

"It is important to show that we do not allow fascism to gain ground," said a spokesman for the Solidaires union.