Several French Cities Announce Curfews After Protests

Paris (ANTARA) - Several cities in France have announced curfews starting on Monday night (19 October), local time, following incidents of looting and violence during protests over the weekend, French media reported.

In Paris, a curfew was imposed from 11pm on Monday until 6am on Tuesday (20 October), local time, around Place de la République and on streets surrounding the Les Halles area, French television channel BFM TV reported, citing local authorities.

In Lyon, local authorities decided to impose a curfew from 9pm on Monday until 6am on Tuesday, local time, in part of the Presqu’île district, an area in the city centre, BFM TV reported.

The prefect of the Nord department in northern France imposed a curfew in parts of Lille, Wattignies, Douai and Denain from 8pm to 6am for two days starting on Monday, BFM TV reported, citing Matignon, the office of the French Prime Minister. The decision was taken with the agreement of all the mayors concerned.

In Nice, a city in south-eastern France, Mayor Eric Ciotti announced on social media platform X that a curfew for minors would take effect from 9pm on Monday, local time.

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said at a press conference on Monday that partial curfews would be imposed in several areas from Monday night.

About 550,000 people took part in demonstrations across France on Saturday (17 October). A total of 2,397 people were arrested during the protests, which were marked by violence, according to figures released by the French Interior Ministry on Sunday (18 October). A total of 997 police and gendarmerie officers were injured, seven of them seriously.