French police eventually shut down an illegal raid near the city of Rennes, which drew more than 2,500 holidays across the country.
The party erupted in a warehouse on Thursday, defying the strict requirements to block the country’s coronavirus, Reuters reported.
Initial efforts to free the partygoers on Friday were met with violence, with the defiant youth throwing rocks and bottles at police. At least one police car was set on fire.
The situation had become so dire that French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin convened a crisis meeting late on Friday to assess the situation, according to the BBC.
The party – which was expected to run until at least Tuesday – was split only after police reinforcements arrived.
More than 1,200 people received official summonses as they left the venue, and police plan to sue the event’s organizers. Lighting and music equipment were confiscated on the spot.
France has the largest number of coronaviruses in Western Europe, with over 64,000 virus-related deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.