Paris Extends Curfew Following Weekend Violence and Looting

Following a weekend marked by violence and looting during social mobilization events, authorities in Paris extended a localized nighttime curfew from 11:00 PM to 6:00 AM in designated areas including the Place de la République and the Les Halles sector. The police prefecture announced the measure as part of an effort to restore public order following riots that broke out over the weekend.

In addition to the overnight curfew, a separate administrative order banned all unauthorized public gatherings from 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM across sensitive zones of the capital. These restrictions cover areas surrounding government landmarks such as the Élysée Palace, the National Assembly, the Senate, the Ministry of the Interior, and major transportation hubs including the Champs-Élysées and the city's main railway stations.

Public transport operations have also been adjusted for security reasons. The RATP confirmed that key metro and RER stations such as République, Châtelet, and Les Halles close early at 10:00 PM, with trains passing through without stopping and transfer connections suspended.

Paris Prosecutor Laure Beccuau reported that law enforcement carried out 557 arrests leading to custody during the unrest, with roughly 90 percent involving adults. Approximately 300 individuals have already appeared before a magistrate. The prosecutor noted that none of the detained suspects have claimed a political motive for their actions.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu praised the targeted curfews implemented across several French cities, including Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, and Nice, stating that the measures contributed to a calmer atmosphere. While government officials defended the restrictions as necessary to protect people and property, critics such as Paris Green party representatives labeled the curfews a severe restriction on public liberties and an alarming authoritarian drift.

Local authorities have implemented complementary security measures alongside the curfews, including temporary bans on the transport of individual containers of fuel and flammable gas, the purchase of pyrotechnic items, and the carrying of protective gear or objects that could be used as weapons near educational institutions.

Similar emergency measures remain in place in other major French urban centers. In Lyon, the prefect renewed a curfew within the historic city center, while Marseille and Bordeaux enacted targeted restrictions focusing particularly on unaccompanied minors in commercial zones and downtown areas.