The French government will consider imposing a state of emergency to prevent a recurrence of riots, but while it is open to dialogue it will not change course, its spokesman said on Sunday, Reuters reported.

Masked, black-clad groups ran amok across central Paris on Saturday, torching cars and buildings, looting shops, smashing windows and fighting police.

“We have to think about the measures that can be taken so that these incidents don’t happen again,” government spokeswoman Benjamin Griveaux told Europe 1 radio.

Authorities were caught off guard by Saturday’s escalation in violence overshadowing the spontaneous protest movement, dubbed the “yellow vests” because many participants are wearing the fluorescent safety jackets kept in all cars in France.

French President Emmanuel Macron will hold an emergency meeting with the prime minister and interior minister later on Sunday to discuss the riots and how to begin dialogue with the “gilets jaunes” (yellow vests).

These yellow vests have become a symbol of French drivers’ protest against higher diesel taxes.