Hundreds of Muslims gathered outside the Embassy of France in London on Friday (October 30) calling for a boycott of the nation after French President Emmanuel Macron supported the right to caricature the Prophet Muhammad, which has famously been done by satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

Macron has caused outrage in the Muslim world by saying "we will not give up caricatures and drawings, even if others back away".

Protesters in London chanted "boycott, boycott" and accused Macron of Islamophobia. One was seen emptying a bottle of French perfume in front of the embassy, "take Italian girls rather than French ones", he added. A picture of the French President was also set on fire.

Tensions grew as police attempted to disperse the protest following prayers. Demonstrators moved into the streets and set off flares. They then travelled to a store of French luxury brand Louis Vuitton and chanted "shame on you".

Two protesters were arrested, one was believed to have a flare and another was told by police he had breached COVID regulations.

France is a country in mourning after three people died in what Macron said was an "Islamist terrorist attack" in Nice yesterday. On the same day, a guard at the French consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, was injured in a knife attack. Earlier this month, teacher Samuel Paty was beheaded outside a school in a Paris suburb. Paty's murderer was motivated by the teacher showing his students Charlie Hebdo cartoons of the prophet Muhammad.