France Imposes Partial Curfews in Several Cities After Violent Protests and Looting, Nearly 2,400 Detained

French authorities have imposed evening curfews in parts of several cities including Paris, Lille and Nice after widespread clashes and looting linked to intense anti-government protests, according to a Reuters report. The government is presenting local, partial restrictions as the most reasonable way to restore order for now.

The tough measures were taken on Monday local time after days of fierce criticism over gaps in security. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu ruled out a blanket curfew for Paris but did not entirely dismiss the option of declaring a state of emergency. He told journalists his determination to restore order remained unshaken.

Paris police have banned all protests after 8pm in certain parts of the capital. A curfew from 11pm to 6am has also been imposed around Place de la Republique and the Les Halles area. Police said in a formal message that a force had been deployed to enforce the rules strictly.

The prime minister's office said that, with the agreement of local administrations, minors in Lille, Douai, Wattignies and Denain would be barred from moving around between 8pm and 6am for the next two days. Nice mayor Eric Ciotti confirmed in a video message that he had signed a similar night-time restriction for minors in the city centre. In Marseille, all gatherings and protests remain completely banned.

With only six months left before the presidential election, the nationwide looting and clashes have thrown France's fragile economy and soaring debt crisis into sharper relief. French trade unions have announced fresh strikes and gatherings for 5 November, raising fears that the unrest could grow further.

Prime Minister Lecornu blamed far-left groups for the instability. He said there really was an extreme left-wing movement that wanted to create deep instability inside the country on the eve of the presidential election. The remark has fuelled further political argument.

Responding immediately, hard-left presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon demanded proof for the accusation. Writing on X, he said the prime minister should otherwise apologise, stay silent and stop fanning the flames of unrest.

A French merchants and retailers federation said around 3,000 businesses were damaged in the weekend violence. Expressing deep concern, it said that behind every looted shop stood traders, staff and families whose years of work and effort had been destroyed within a few hours.

When tax relief was demanded to protect affected businesses, the prime minister said special furlough measures to prevent job losses would take effect from Tuesday. The signal was that the government would try to ensure workers do not suddenly lose their jobs even where businesses have been badly hit.

The digital minister said on X that online platforms selling goods looted during the violence had been instructed to quickly remove the relevant adverts and to help identify those involved. Stopping the online sale of looted goods has become another administrative priority.

According to the latest interior ministry figures, around 2,400 people have been detained over the unrest. One person died of a heart attack on Saturday during the violence, and around 1,000 police officers on duty were injured. The figures underline how extensive the violence was.

Attention now turns to what happens next: whether curfews and bans reduce street violence, how large the unions' announced 5 November action becomes, and how the government handles political pressure six months before the election. The answers will shape France's situation in the days ahead.