Brief

France imposes local curfews after weekend riots and looting

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu ordered targeted curfews as police struggled to contain unrest sparked by anti‑government protests.

By Felo News Desk · Published Tue, 20 Oct 2026 13:56:25 GMT

French interior authorities announced partial curfews in several cities on Monday after a weekend of riots and looting that followed nationwide anti‑government protests, Reuters reported.

What happened

Police imposed an 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew for minors in Lille, Douai, Wattignies and Denain, while Paris police barred protests after 8 p.m. and set an overnight curfew from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the Place de la République and Les Halles districts. Nice’s mayor Eric Ciotti confirmed a similar minor curfew in central Nice. Marseille prohibited gatherings and demonstrations altogether.

What the reports add

The Reuters piece noted that about 2,400 people were arrested across France and nearly 1,000 police officers were injured during the unrest. A source in Prime Minister Lecornu’s office said the minor curfew in the northern towns was agreed with local mayors. The Federation of Trade and Retail said almost 3,000 shops were affected, while the Junior Digital Minister Anne Le Hénanff ordered online platforms to remove listings for looted goods.

What was said

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu told reporters, “My determination to restore order is absolute.” He also blamed far‑left groups for the unrest, saying they wanted “profound unrest in the country in the run‑up to the presidential election.” Hard‑left candidate Jean‑Luc Melenchon responded on X, demanding evidence and urging the minister to apologize.

How it came about

The curfews follow weeks of student demonstrations that have intensified six months before the next presidential election, amid a weak economy and rising debt. Earlier Felo coverage linked the unrest to broader political tensions and noted President Emmanuel Macron’s refusal of Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez’s resignation.

Key facts

Partial curfews were imposed in Paris, Lille, Nice and other cities on Monday. (news.yahoo.com)
Around 2,400 people were arrested and nearly 1,000 police officers were injured during the weekend unrest. (news.yahoo.com)
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu blamed far‑left groups for the violence. (news.yahoo.com)
The Federation of Trade and Retail reported almost 3,000 shops were looted or damaged. (news.yahoo.com)