French authorities extend curfews after riots sweep the country

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 21:32 · Archive

French authorities are extending curfews and increasing police presence after weekend rioting that saw buildings torched and thousands of businesses looted.

Overnight curfews have been imposed in areas of Paris including Place de la République and Les Halles shopping district, with restrictions also introduced in Lyon and other cities. The curfew in Paris runs from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. The measures follow weekend violence that included the burning of a historic town hall in Limoges, a city in central France. More than 2,500 people had been taken into police custody by Monday evening, according to Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin.

The protests began in mid-September when high school students and teachers in the suburbs of Paris called for changes to overcrowded classrooms, deteriorating buildings and teacher shortages. The unrest has continued for five weeks, with students and workers demanding better schools and relief from rising living costs.

President Emmanuel Macron distinguished between the peaceful protests and the rioters who he said hijacked those protests. He blamed 'radical far-left groups' and 'criminals' for the violence and said those who sought to bring down the republic would be held accountable. The government faces mounting debt and a fractured parliament that makes passing a budget difficult.

How it is being reported

• Curfew imposed in certain areas of Paris every night until Monday morningThe curfew has been extended in certain areas of Paris, every night from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. until Monday morning. The measure has been in force since the violence and looting of the weekend, according to an order from the Paris police prefecture published Thursday. A Paris protest Thursday organised by students -- who had held four weeks of protests before the October 17 rallies -- went ahead with hundreds attending after a police ban was overturned by an emergency court injunction. FRANCE 24's Mark Owen speaks with Alice Cohen-Morzadec, International Spokesperson of "L'Union étudiante."France 24 · 22 Oct, 20:48
• French government extends curfews after riots sweep across the countryFrench authorities are extending curfews and increasing the police presence in public spaces as President Emmanuel Macron's government tries to regain control after rioters torched buildings and looted thousands of businesses this weekend.CBS News · 20 Oct, 23:33

In this story: Emmanuel Macron · Sébastien Lecornu · Laurent Nuñez · Gérald Darmanin · France · Paris · Lyon · Limoges

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log