France imposes night curfews in Paris, Lille and Lyon after weekend of riots and looting
PM Sébastien Lecornu says targeted curfews kept the peace overnight after more than 2,500 arrests, about 1,000 injured police and 3,000 damaged shops. Protesters plan to march again on Saturday.
At a glance
- France imposed targeted night curfews on Monday, October 19, in parts of Paris, Lille and nearby towns, Lyon and Nice after a weekend of violent cost-of-living protests.
- In Paris the curfew covered Place de la République and Les Halles from 11pm to 6am, and all demonstrations were banned from 8pm.
- More than 2,500 people have been taken into custody since the weekend, nearly 1,000 police were injured and at least 3,000 shops were damaged.
- PM Sébastien Lecornu said the curfews helped keep the peace overnight and can be reimposed on Tuesday; a state of emergency has not been ruled out.
France has turned to night curfews to stop a wave of looting and arson. After the most violent weekend of protests in years, authorities imposed targeted curfews on Monday night, October 19, in parts of Paris, Lille, Lyon and Nice. On Tuesday morning Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said they had "helped keep the peace overnight".
Where the curfews apply
| City | Measure | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Paris | Curfew around Place de la République and Les Halles; all demonstrations banned citywide | Curfew 11pm–6am; protest ban from 8pm |
| Lille, Douai, Wattignies, Denain | Partial curfews, Monday and Tuesday nights | 8pm–6am |
| Lyon | Overnight curfew, Monday night | Night |
| Nice | Minors banned from the city centre | Night |
| Marseille | Public gatherings banned | Noon–8pm |
"It is out of the question to put all of Paris under curfew," Lecornu said, explaining that measures are local and decided by regional authorities. He said one aim was to protect shops as well as people, and that curfews can be reimposed on Tuesday night "where they deem necessary".
The weekend in numbers
| Protesters on Saturday, October 17 | About 500,000 nationwide |
| Police and gendarmes deployed | About 60,000 |
| People taken into custody since the weekend | 2,513 (70% adults) |
| Already jailed | 67 |
| Police and gendarmes injured | Nearly 1,000 |
| Shops damaged | At least 3,000 — losses in the hundreds of millions of euros |
Masked groups attacked police, broke into and set fire to town halls and other public buildings, looted shops and burned cars and scooters. Town halls in Lille, Marseille and Limoges were damaged. At least one protester lost a hand to a police crowd-control grenade, and a 14-year-old was hit by tear gas at close range.
How it started
The movement began about four weeks ago with high-school students protesting overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages and crumbling buildings. It grew into marches over the cost of living and declining public services, with the "yellow vest" movement — known for its 2018–2020 fuel-price protests — leading the weekend demonstrations.
Political fallout
- Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez admitted police had "lost control" and acknowledged a "lack of anticipation". He offered to resign, but President Emmanuel Macron refused, asking him to keep the chain of command and find new ways to deal with looters.
- Macron condemned the "unbridled" violence in a Sunday address and acknowledged failures in the response.
- Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said facial recognition on social-media footage will be used to identify suspects, with fast-track prosecutions.
- Digital Minister Anne Le Henanff summoned eBay and Vinted to remove listings of stolen goods.
- Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire called the looting "unbearable", and big-city mayors have demanded answers over security planning.
- The government blames ultra-left groups for stoking the violence; critics say authorities underestimated the protests.
Beyond France
The Louvre was closed on Monday after demonstrators blocked its entrance. Smaller protests and clashes were reported in Milan, Brussels, Liège, Madrid, Lisbon and Porto. The United States and Germany have warned their citizens to avoid demonstrations. Financial markets also reacted, with investors moving into safe-haven assets on Monday.
Why it matters
The unrest comes six months before the April–May 2027 presidential election to choose Macron's successor, with far-right leader Marine Le Pen strong in the polls. How the government restores order without inflaming the protests further could shape that race. For the millions of visitors and foreign workers in France — including many from Pakistan and South Asia — the curfews mean disruption to travel, shops and night-time work.
What happens next
Curfews may be reimposed on Tuesday night, and Lecornu has not ruled out a state of emergency. The yellow vests have called new protests for Saturday, October 24, and major unions plan strikes and demonstrations on November 5.
Questions people are asking
Is there a curfew in Paris?
A targeted overnight curfew applied on the night of October 19–20, 2026, around Place de la République and Les Halles from 11pm to 6am, with demonstrations banned citywide from 8pm. Local authorities can reimpose curfews on Tuesday night where they see a need.
Why are there riots in France?
Weeks of protests that began with high-school students demanding better schools grew into nationwide marches over the cost of living and public services. On Saturday, October 17, about 500,000 people marched and masked groups looted shops and attacked public buildings.
Is it safe to travel to France now?
Most of France is functioning normally, but travellers should avoid protest areas, follow local curfews and check updates from their embassy. The US and Germany have warned their citizens to stay away from demonstrations.
