The Latest Breaking News from Bruno Retailleau

Islamophobia is rampant in France. Official denial, even of the word itself, is driving the hatred, says Guardian Europe columnist Rokhaya Diallo

More than 300,000 people joined May Day rallies across France on Wednesday, unions said, with protests mostly peaceful – apart from in Paris where masked demonstrators targeted Socialist MPs and dozens were arrested. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau called the attacks “absolutely disgraceful and unacceptable”.

A man suspected of stabbing a young Malian to death in a mosque in southern France and then filming his victim writhing in agony has been arrested after surrendering to police in Italy, the prosecutor said on Monday.

The man suspected of stabbing a worshipper at a mosque in southern France during Friday prayers has turned himself in to police in Italy. As the manhunt was underway, hundreds of people gathered to pay homage to the victim and to denounce Islamophobia.

There can never be a place for racism and hate in France, President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday after the brutal stabbing to death of a Muslim in a mosque in the south of the country.

France will start seizing drug users’ phones across the country as part of a crackdown on gangs blamed for a wave of prison attacks. The move expands a trial in Bayonne aimed at stopping deals made through encrypted messaging apps.

At least nine prison facilities and other affiliated institutions have been attacked

A wave of coordinated attacks have hit prisons across France, with unknown assailants torching cars outside several jails, leaving mysterious inscriptions and hitting one facility with automatic gunfire.

French officials say several prisons have been targeted in incidents including gunfire and arson