France imposes overnight curfews in Paris as weekend riots subside

Curfews in Place de la République and Les Halles were enforced Monday night after more than 2,400 arrests during France's worst rioting in years.

By Felo News Desk · Published Tue, 20 Oct 2026 15:28:08 GMT

Paris returned to calm on Tuesday after authorities imposed overnight curfews in two central districts, following a weekend of nationwide rioting and looting that saw over 2,400 people arrested, according to the Associated Press.

What happened

On Monday night, police set up an overnight curfew from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the Place de la République and Les Halles neighborhoods. The curfew also banned gatherings after 8 p.m. on Monday. The measures were part of a broader response that included limited, localised curfews in Paris, Lille, Nice and other cities, as reported by earlier Felo coverage.

What the reports add

Latimes.com described how two large sections of central Paris were shut down on Monday night, noting that the curfew followed a weekend in which grocery stores, cafés and public buildings were ransacked in Paris, Marseille, Bordeaux and other cities. The outlet said more than 500,000 people had taken to the streets on Saturday, with many marching peacefully before some turned to looting.

Winnipegfreepress.com focused on the arrest figures, stating that at least 2,400 people were detained after clashes that involved setting cars on fire, storming public buildings and igniting a historic city hall. The article also highlighted that the curfew helped bring the first quiet night since the unrest began.

What was said

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu told reporters that the lack of fatalities was “a miracle” and blamed far‑left groups for the violence, as noted in the Felo article dated 2026‑10‑19. President Emmanuel Macron refused Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez’s resignation and demanded transparency over the security response, also cited in Felo’s earlier reporting.

How it came about

The unrest began as peaceful protests by high‑school students demanding better school conditions. Over the weekend, the protests escalated into riots over rising living costs and perceived inequities, spreading to Marseille, Lille and other cities. Earlier Felo stories documented that around 550,000 demonstrators marched on Saturday, that roughly 1,800 arrests were made during the protests, and that about 1,000 police officers were injured. The cumulative pressure prompted Prime Minister Lecornu to order targeted curfews and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez to offer his resignation, which President Macron rejected.

Key facts

Paris police imposed an overnight curfew in Place de la République and Les Halles from 11 p.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday. (latimes.com)
At least 2,400 people were arrested across France during the weekend riots. (winnipegfreepress.com)
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said the lack of fatalities was a miracle. (latimes.com)