PARIS – French officials are imposing localized curfews — including in parts of Paris — as the country reels from its worst rioting in years. The move comes after protests over education and the cost of living spiraled into a wave of deadly, country-wide violence over the weekend that has sparked a blame game at home and threatens to spill over into its European neighbors.
The mood in the country remained tense on Monday, with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu asking some cities to impose “partial curfews” to protect people, property and businesses.
Paris’ Place de la République will be under curfew from 11 p.m. (5 p.m. ET) Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday, as will the streets around Les Halle, from 10 p.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday, CNN affiliate BFMTV reported citing Parisian elected officials. And in Lyon, gatherings on public roads are prohibited from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday followed by a curfew on parts of the city from 9 p.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday. Meanwhile in Marseille, officials banned all gatherings and demonstrations from midday until 8 p.m. local time.
Curfews for minors will take place from 9 p.m. Monday (6 p.m. ET) to 6 a.m. Tuesday on the streets of downtown Nice, according to the city’s mayor, and in several towns and cities in the country’s Nord department. BFMTV, citing the prime minister’s office, said these curfews would cover Lille, Douai, Wattignies and Denain and run from 8 p.m. Monday local time to 6 a.m. Tuesday.
Those measures were introduced after more than 2,000 people were arrested this past weekend, with at least two deaths and reports of serious injuries, including two people who lost their hands.
During the protests police fired tear gas into crowds and fought running battles with black-clad, hooded rioters who set fires and broke into shops and government buildings, with images showing historic buildings ablaze.
As France begins to count the cost, accusations are mounting that the government failed to adequately anticipate the scale of the crisis, with an election to succeed French President Emmanuel Macron just six months away. “Those who destroyed must pay,” Macron said on Sunday evening. “Those who looted must pay back. Those who sought to bring down the Republic will be held accountable.” He also promised to hold meetings this week to discuss “concrete proposals” and to listen to protesters’ demands.
But it remains to be seen whether this will be enough to stem the protests in France – as well as similar demonstrations against costs of living now spreading in other countries nearby.
