In brief
Targeted curfews were imposed across key French cities—including Paris’s Place de la République, Les Halles, Marseille, Bordeaux, Nice, Lyon and Lille—after weeks of widespread riots and looting. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu praised police for restoring order and said future curfews would depend on local conditions. Despite the slowdown, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez admitted police had lost control in some areas; he offered his resignation, which was rejected by President Macron. Over 2,500 people have been detained since the violence broke out, with reports of a demonstrator losing a hand to a crowd‑control grenade and roughly 1,000 officers wounded.
French cities slept in relative silence overnight after the government enforced curfews across the nation in an effort to quell weeks of unrest that turned into riots, looting and widespread disorder.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said targeted curfews in key districts – from Paris’s Place de la République to the shopping centre of Les Halles – had brought calm to parts of central France. New restrictions were also applied in Marseille, Bordeaux, Nice, Lyon, Lille and other northern and southern towns, forcing people below a certain age to stay indoors and limiting large gatherings.
Lecornu thanked police and gendarmes for their efforts in restoring order and announced that any further curfews would be decided “on the ground” by regional authorities and mayors, depending on local needs.
However, the unrest has taken a heavy toll. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez has admitted that police forces had lost control in some cities. The incident sparked criticism from opposition politicians, prompting Nuñez to offer his resignation, a move rejected by President Emmanuel Macron. More than 2,500 people have been arrested since the protests erupted, one demonstrator has lost a hand after a police crowd‑control grenade, and roughly 1,000 officers have sustained injuries.
The riots began last month as students demanded improved school conditions, but the protests broadened to address a wider range of grievances. Trade unions and other civic groups joined the demonstrations, amplifying the scale and intensity of the unrest.
As France grapples with restoring stability, the government remains prepared to impose further curfews where necessary while working to address the underlying causes of the social upheaval.
