In brief
In the wake of a chaotic weekend, French police put on curfews in central Paris and cities like Marseille, Lyon, and Lille to restore order. The government announced it will fund recovery for damaged businesses and hold the rioters financially responsible. Over 2,500 people were arrested, with more than 1,000 police injured. The movement, sparked by student protests, now involves trade unions and other groups, raising concerns ahead of France’s upcoming elections.
French police announced curfews in parts of central Paris and other major cities after a weekend of riots, looting and clashes with a police crowd‑control grenade leaving one protester with a blown‑off hand.
The Paris curfew will be in force from 23:00 local time until 06:00 in key spots such as Place de la République and the Les Halles shopping quarter, with bans on unauthorized gatherings also declared in the city centre.
Metropolitan curfews spread to Marseille, Bordeaux, Nice, Lyon, Lille and several smaller towns, restricting the movement of youths and limiting public meetings. Government officials say police lost “control” in some areas and that the situation demanded extra powers for mayors to act swiftly.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said the state would set aside money to help towns recover, and that those responsible for damage would be held liable. A partial unemployment fund will also be opened for those who cannot work because of the unrest.
The protests began last month when students demanded better school conditions but grew with trade unions and other groups. More than 2,500 people have since been arrested and about 1,000 police officers were injured.
Government investigators are combing CCTV footage to find ringleaders, and the Interior Minister’s resignation was rejected by President Emmanuel Macron to keep command of law enforcement steady.
Despite the violence, many towns like Marseille are “deep in distress” and fear for survival, with looted goods already being listed on online marketplaces – now blocked by services like Vinted that prohibit the sale of stolen items.
