French police eventually closed an illegal rave near the city of Rennes, which attracted more than 2,500 celebrations from across the country.
The party has been raging in a warehouse since Thursday in defiance of the country’s strict coronavirus virus closure requirements, Reuters reported.
The initial attempts to clear the revelators were carried out by force, while the defiant youths hurled stones and bottles at the police. At least one police car was set on fire.
The situation got so out of hand that French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin convened a crisis meeting on Friday to assess the situation, according to the BBC.
The party – which is expected to last until at least Tuesday – was only finally broken up after the arrival of police reinforcements.
More than 1,200 people received official quotes as they left the venue and police plan to prosecute the organizers of the event. Music equipment was also seized at the scene.
France has the highest number of coronaviruses in Western Europe with more than 64,000 virus-related deaths since the onset of the pandemic.