Europeupdated 1h ago2 min read
French Authorities Impose Overnight Curfews in Paris and Nice After Police Lose Control
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Overnight curfews imposed in parts of Paris and Nice, 23:00–06:00 local time. Louvre blocked/closed as student protests support high school movement amid unrest.
22 outlets told this the same way.
Curfews in Paris and Nice
French authorities imposed overnight movement restrictions in parts of Paris, with the Préfecture de Police saying the movement of people is prohibited from 23:00 local time (22:00 BST) on 19 October until 06:00 local time (05:00 BST) on 20 October. French police also set a ban on gatherings from 20:00 local time (19:00 BST) on 19 October to 06:00 (05:00 BST) on 20 October, and the rules bar people from carrying weapons, fireworks or dangerous flammables such as petrol, oil and gas.
Nice Mayor Eric Ciotti announced a curfew for minors beginning at 21:00 local time (20:00 BST) on Monday, and he said it would last until 06:00 local time (05:00 BST) and be in place nightly until next Sunday. Laurent Nuñez said police "lost control" of protests in some cities over the weekend, and the French interior minister said the possibility of calling off planned events was discussed but "does not apply to tomorrowâs match between PSG and FC Barcelona."
Louvre blocked, curfews expand
Students blocked the Louvre Museum entrance on Monday morning, and the AFP report said the museum was unable to open its doors at 9:00 a.m. because of the demonstration. The leaflet posted near the Louvre declared, "We are proud to announce that we are blocking the world’s largest museum," and the Louvre management said the movement led by students from the School of the Louvre was used as an "echo chamber."
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu called for local curfews, and the prime minister’s office said curfews in Lille, Douai, Wattignies and Denain would run from 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM. The Louvre blockade also triggered a wider set of restrictions, with the government announcing that residents in affected Paris areas would be unable to circulate between 11:00 PM and 6:00 AM, and unable to participate in demonstrations between 8:00 PM and 6:00 AM.
Order, arrests, and political fallout
French officials said the weekend unrest led to 2,397 arrests on Saturday, and the Interior Ministry reported 997 police and gendarmes injured with seven in critical condition, along with one protester dead. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez stated, "Attacking our law enforcement forces, targeting our institutions, degrading public buildings, breaking into prefectures or town halls, looting businesses: nothing can justify it," as Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu called for limited, local curfews.
President Emmanuel Macron rejected Laurent Nunez’s offer to resign and ordered a review of security planning and intelligence features, while Macron said, "The country needs order, peace, and not an escalation." Marine Le Pen blamed Jean-Luc Mélenchon and his France Unbowed party for stirring up the violence, and the European Union said the right to peaceful protest "must be protected" in France while condemning the fires, looting and attacks as "unacceptable."