Four held after protesters set off flares during Israeli orchestra concert in Paris

Four people were detained after protesters disrupted a performance by the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra in Paris three times on Thursday as flares, smoke bombs and physical clashes broke out in the concert hall.

In video of the event shared on social media, several members of the audience could be seen physically assaulting one of the activists who lit a red flare. The man was chased down steps in the gallery of Paris’ Philharmonie concert hall before being protected by other concertgoers.

The concert, which featured a programme of Beethoven and Tchaikovsky, had already been criticised by a French union for the performing arts, and pro-Palestinian activists had called for a boycott.

However, Culture Minister Rachida Dati strongly defended freedom of creativity as a French value and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said nothing could excuse the "serious disturbances in the hall", according to a report by BBC.

The disruption prompted an angry response from government figures on Friday, with Laurent Nuñez firmly condemning the incidents and praising police for their rapid response.