Europe
Curfews calm the night in France; Marseille keeps minors off the streets until Friday
Prime Minister Lecornu says the targeted restrictions helped the night pass without major incidents, while prefects may announce new measures.
By ANN Newsroom · Newsroom
October 20, 2026, 14:45 · Updated 12:21 · 1 min read
In brief
- After curfews were imposed in parts of Paris, Lyon, Nice and Lille, Monday night passed without major incidents.
- Marseille is imposing a curfew on minors from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. in several neighborhoods until Friday.
- According to Interior Minister Nuñez, the number of people detained during the unrest has reached 2,513.
France got through its first night of limited curfews without major unrest, following a weekend of looting, arson and clashes with police in several cities. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu wrote on X on Tuesday that the targeted measures had helped calm the situation overnight, while police confirmed there were no serious incidents nationwide.
In Paris, the 11 p.m.-to-6 a.m. curfew was enforced only around Place de la République and the Les Halles shopping area, where protesters had gathered over the weekend. Lecornu had earlier ruled out a curfew for the entire capital. Lille and three surrounding municipalities have restrictions in place for Monday and Tuesday nights, while in Lyon and Nice some measures apply only to minors.
Marseille: 317 shops damaged
Marseille on Tuesday joined the cities restricting the movement of minors. The ban applies every night from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. in neighborhoods near shopping centers and will last until Friday. According to the authorities, about 500 shops were attacked in the southern city, 317 of which were damaged or looted; prosecutors reported 101 arrests, including 27 minors.
Lecornu said decisions on new curfews would be made on the ground by prefects, in coordination with mayors. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, whose resignation President Macron rejected on Monday, has acknowledged that law enforcement lost control in several cities and said 2,513 people have been taken into custody.
Macron is on a tour of the Gulf states, a trip that is being criticized at home for its timing. The “yellow vest” movement has called for new protests on Saturday, so the authorities remain on alert.
