BBC calls riots across France ‘mostly peaceful’ while showing masked looters torching cars and clashing with police

“They were mostly peaceful, but as we saw in the capital, in the wings were those who wanted to take advantage of the disorder."

However, as Mr Waterhouse described the scenes as "peaceful", the BBC used footage showing a car engulfed in flames with rioters heard yelling in the background.

It then proceeded to show a clip of balaclava-clad looters on the rampage through the streets, starting fires and clashing with police officers attempting to quell the unrest.

Mr Waterhouse continued: “The shops that have been hit have been completely gutted, like this wine shop has been looted top to bottom.

“And this morning, in Paris and across France, there is an anger.

"Few believe this was at the hands of the genuine protesters, but down to an opportunistic minority who came in and sought to rob and cause carnage."

An article on the BBC News website also described the disorder as "peaceful". The public broadcaster's description of the scenes has sparked fury from campaign groups, who accused the BBC of applying a "double standard" in its coverage.

Rebecca Ryan, campaign director of Defund the BBC, told GB News: "Here we go again. In 2020, the BBC described Black Lives Matter riots as ‘largely peaceful’, despite bottles and bicycles being lobbed at police and officers being left bloodied.

"That was the spark that launched Defund the BBC.

"Six years later, we’re seeing the same language used to describe protests in Paris, even as cars burn and masked rioters clash with police."

Ms Ryan said the contrast between the corporation's coverage of different street movements was "striking".

She told the People's Channel: "Left-wing protests are described as ‘largely peaceful’, while those campaigning for Brexit, freedom of speech or the rule of law are repeatedly labelled ‘far-right’ and ‘thuggish’.

"It’s this double standard that has destroyed public trust in the BBC."

She added: "The British people should not be forced to fund a broadcaster whose editorial standards they no longer trust.

"It’s time to scrap the TV licence and replace it with a voluntary funding model."

Reacting to the BBC coverage, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: "You couldn't make it up. Is it any wonder why public trust in the media is in freefall?

"It's outrageous that we are expected to fund disingenuous reporting like this. Reform will scrap the TV licence scam."

Since Saturday, more than 2,400 people have been arrested as disorder in several major French cities continues to spiral.

This morning, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu confirmed he had asked local municipalities to impose partial curfews amid the ongoing civil unrest.

Mr Lecornu confirmed local mayors will be given the power to introduce partial curfews in an effort to protect people and shops.

"The prefects will discuss this with the mayors and their local chambers of commerce and industry," he told a press conference today.

France would, he warned, declare a state of emergency if it is deemed necessary.

GB News has approached the BBC for comment.