France, May 16 -- Reports of anti-LGBTQI+ abuse rose again in France last year, with rights groups warning of a hostile climate driven by rising online harassment andhate speech.

More than 4,800 offences were recorded by police and gendarmes in 2024 - a 5 percent increase on the previous year - according to figures released by the interior ministry on Thursday.

Of those, 3,100 were classed as crimes or serious offences - a spike of 7 percent - while 1,800 were misdemeanours, up by just 1 percent.

Although the increase was smaller than in previous years - when annual rises averaged 15 percent between 2016 and 2023 - campaigners say the situation remains worrying.

The figures were published ahead of the International Day Against Homopho...