After unrest, France announces nightly curfews for as long as necessary in Paris and other cities

Curfews continue in city centers

Authorities renewed overnight restrictions in central Paris and Lyon on Tuesday. Paris police said the curfews in zones around Place de la République and Les Halles had restored “public peace” and would stay in force “for as long as necessary.” The Paris restrictions do not cover other places hit Saturday, including the Champs-Elysées, the area around Saint-Lazare train station and parts of Rue de Turbigo. In Lyon, the city-center curfew runs from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.; officials said the night passed without disturbances.

Marseille imposed a curfew for unaccompanied minors beginning Tuesday night. Lecornu said targeted curfews had helped keep the previous night calm.

Security preparations for Saturday

Lecornu told the National Assembly that the police deployment planned for Saturday would be “massive,” but gave no numbers. Soldiers with Sentinelle, the anti-terrorism operation patrolling French cities since the 2015 Islamic State group attacks, will guard sensitive sites, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez told lawmakers. That role is intended to free police and gendarmes for crowd control.

Arrest follows Limoges fire

Police arrested a suspect Tuesday over an arson attack that damaged Limoges’ historic city hall, Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said. The suspect was in police custody, and Darmanin said the person may not have acted alone.

Unrest and cleanup across France

At least 2,400 people were arrested after Saturday’s nationwide protests, during which rioters clashed with police, burned cars and entered public buildings. The demonstrations were against rising living costs and poor conditions in schools. On Sunday evening, small groups set fires and looted businesses in Paris, Lyon, Marseille and other cities.

In Paris, a police helicopter searched Place de la République overnight Monday as officers enforced the curfew. On Tuesday morning, workers removed a giant fluorescent yellow vest from the square’s central statue and washed graffiti from the monument.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance and President Donald Trump shared footage of the Limoges city hall fire and blamed immigration for the unrest. French officials, by contrast, have attributed the violence to far-left groups and opportunistic looters.