Following the unrest and looting that took place over the weekend, French authorities have imposed curfews in certain parts of Paris as well as in other cities, reports BBC.Paris police announced that a curfew will be in effect from 11:00 PM to 6:00 AM at the Place de la République and the Les Halles shopping district. Gatherings have also been prohibited in several other parts of the city. Partial curfews—which restrict the gathering of young people in various ways—have been declared in several cities, including Marseille, Bordeaux, Nice, and Lyon.French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez acknowledged that, in some cities, the police lost control of the situation. He has faced sharp criticism from opposition politicians for a lack of preparedness regarding the unrest; however, French President Emmanuel Macron rejected his offer to resign.The protests began in September, when students demanded improvements to conditions in educational institutions; since then, however, the movement has intensified and now encompasses a much broader range of issues. Various trade unions and other protest groups have also joined several of the demonstrations. Officials have reported that more than 2,500 people have been arrested. One protester lost an arm after police used a crowd-control grenade. Approximately 1,000 police officers have been injured.Following a crisis management meeting on the 19th of October, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu stated that local government leaders have been authorized to impose curfews if necessary. He did not rule out the possibility of declaring a state of emergency nationwide, adding that the government would allocate funds to address the damage—costs that would subsequently be recovered from those who instigated the violence. Lecornu indicated that legislation would be employed to ensure that those responsible for the destruction are held financially liable. The Prime Minister also announced financial assistance for individuals currently unable to continue working due to the unrest.Meanwhile, Nuñez reported that 200 investigators are reviewing surveillance camera footage in an effort to identify the ringleaders of the unrest. On the 18th of October, the Minister of the Interior sought to resign, but Macron refused to accept the resignation, emphasizing the need for continued leadership within the authorities. Alain Di Crescenzo, head of the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stated that the unrest has directly affected more than 2,000 shops and other businesses, with the damage estimated in the hundreds of millions of euros. Two French government ministers indicated that stolen goods have been found on various online marketplaces. A representative for the platform Vinted stated that the sale of stolen items is strictly prohibited; since the weekend, the platform’s staff have been working to identify and remove listings for items linked to the looting of businesses.
Curfews imposed in parts of Paris and other French cities
