Brief
French PM orders localised curfews after weekend riots and looting
Lecornu instructed prefects to impose targeted curfews as interior minister offered his resignation.
By Felo News Desk · Published
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu told reporters on Wednesday that he has instructed prefects to impose "very limited" and "localised" curfews in cities that experienced the worst rioting and looting over the weekend, Gulf News reported.
The curfews are intended to prevent further violence after Saturday’s protests turned violent in Paris, Lyon, Marseille and other cities. Lecornu said that despite "scenes of severe violence and extensive property damage" on Saturday, no fatalities occurred, which he called "a miracle".
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez offered his resignation on Sunday, but President Emmanuel Macron rejected it, saying continued command of law‑enforcement was needed. Macron’s office instructed Nuñez to ensure full transparency about planning and intelligence failures that preceded the unrest and to introduce new policing tactics quickly.
During the weekend, groups set fire to trash bins, bicycles and other objects in the streets and looted businesses. Authorities estimated that at least 3,000 businesses were damaged or looted across several cities. Police arrested roughly 2,400 people nationwide.
Nuñez, speaking on France Inter radio, said he resigned because he felt responsible for the events and stressed the need to anticipate future mobilisations. He blamed "hordes of troublemakers and looters" and "far‑left activists" for the violence and said police strategy must adapt to "extremely mobile groups".
In Marseille, the prefect banned any protest or gathering from noon to 8 p.m. on Monday. Nuñez acknowledged that authorities had "lost control" in some major cities, noting the scale of looting made it impossible to ignore the loss of control.
Key facts
- Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu ordered limited, localised curfews in French cities after weekend riots (gulfnews.com)
- Around 2,400 people were arrested across France during the unrest (gulfnews.com)
- Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez offered his resignation, which President Macron refused (gulfnews.com)
- Authorities estimated at least 3,000 businesses were damaged or looted (gulfnews.com)
- No fatalities were reported despite extensive property damage (gulfnews.com)
Sources
- [1] gulfnews.com — originally reported as “France Implements Localised Curfews to Curb Rioting and Looting in Major Cities”
