Curfews followed by quieter night in French cities, says PM

Targeted curfews and restrictions on gatherings were followed by a quieter night in several French cities after a weekend of rioting and looting, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said. Further curfews on Tuesday night will depend on local conditions, he added. [1]

Restrictions were imposed in parts of central Paris, including Place de la République and the Les Halles shopping area, and in cities including Marseille, Bordeaux, Nice, Lyon and Lille. Lecornu said decisions on any further measures would be made by regional authorities and mayors.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said police had “lost control” in some cities. After criticism of the government’s preparedness, he offered his resignation on Monday, but President Emmanuel Macron rejected it.

Officials said more than 2,500 people had been arrested since the disorder began and about 1,000 police officers were injured. AFP reported that one demonstrator’s hand was blown off by a police crowd-control grenade.

The protests began last month, with students demanding better school conditions, and have since drawn in trade unions and other protest groups, according to the BBC.