Marseille is set to impose a curfew on minors each night until Friday, sources have told French media, after prime minister Sebastien Lecornu said the measures last night contributed to “calm” across the country.
The curfew will begin at 10pm (9pm BST) and end at 5am (4am BST), until Friday, according to AFP and Le Figaro. It will be targeted to certain areas, such as around shopping centres, rather than covering the entire city.
Prime minister Sebastien Lecornu had said targeted curfews would be decided by local authorities “on the ground, by the prefects, in coordination with the mayors”.
Last night, the French government imposed partial curfews across the country, including in Paris and Nice, after riots and looting amid nationwide protests over the weekend.
It came after thousands of rioters were arrested during the weekend’s widespread protests, with justice minister Gérald Darmanin promising an “unrelenting” response to violence.
Riots also spread across Europe, with similar incidents in Belgium, Albania and Italy, where the government is set to dispatch 500 army troops to “defend Milan”.
Read MoreWant to understand Gen Z protests? Just look at their Gen X parents
‘We are the shame of Europe’: France imposes curfews to stop growing riots
France is on fire. Will it spread to the UK?
From France to Albania, social unrest is setting Europe's streets ablaze
Key Points
- Marseille to impose targeted 10pm curfew for minors until Friday
- New curfews to be decided after restrictions 'contributed to the calm', says French PM
- French police arrest main suspect behind Limoges town hall fire
- Trump holds up France riots as warning to US voters ahead of midterms
- At least 2,400 arrested over weekend of violence in France
- France is on fire. Will it spread to the UK?
Bonfire of the exploding e-bikes as toxic smoke spreads across French protests
14:00 , Alex CroftAs violent protests rock France, one of the iconic sights of the unrest has become burning bikes.
The sight of electric bikes burning has become common during the unrest across France and elsewhere in Europe.
E-bikes often use lithium-ion batteries, which can ignite and produce intense fires that spread rapidly and produce toxic smoke.
In Paris, black smoke and flames rose over piles of the e-bikes at the weekend. Elsewhere in the city, a protester threw an e-bike onto a burning car.
Read more:
Bonfire of the exploding e-bikes as toxic smoke spreads across France
Watch: Unfazed jogger casually runs through chaotic Paris protests
13:28 , Alex CroftLouvre remains closed after students blockade Paris museum
12:59 , Alex CroftThe Louvre in Paris remained closed to visitors on Monday after students blocked its entrances in solidarity with the high school protests that have spread across France.
The blockade was led by students from art history school École du Louvre, who gathered outside the museum early in the morning. Management decided not to open at its scheduled time of 9am, with barriers preventing visitors from entering.
A leaflet distributed at the entrances declared: “We are proud to announce that we are blocking the world's largest museum.” It accused the government of neglecting public services and called for better conditions for students and workers, and an end to what it described as unacceptable police repression, according to Le Figaro.
The students said they wanted to support high school pupils demanding better educational conditions and call for increased funding for education and culture.
Recap: Trump blames France riots on immigration, claims Paris will soon be a ‘Muslim city’
12:27 , Alex CroftDonald Trump has blamed the unrest in France on immigration, claiming Paris will soon become a “Muslim city” and urged president Emmanuel Macron to close the country’s borders.
Speaking to reporters outside the White House on Monday, Trump said he had warned Macron about his immigration policies when they first met, around eight or nine years ago.
“He’s a friend of mine. I told him a long time ago, you’re making a big mistake in France. You’re letting everybody from the world come in,” Trump said. “The whole world was coming in. And as you know, Paris is going to be a Muslim city very soon, and that wasn’t the deal.”
Trump dismissed the suggestion that the unrest was driven by domestic grievances, saying: “What’s happening in France has to do with immigration, not schools, not anything.”
Earlier on Monday, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that migrants had “taken over France” and they should “close the borders, fast”.
French police arrest main suspect behind Limoges town hall fire
11:55 , Alex CroftThe main suspect behind the fire at Limoges town hall has been arrested, a police source and the local public prosecutor have told Le Parisien.
The 34-year-old man, from the Creuse region, is described as an ultra-left activist who was already on France’s security watchlist, they said.
He was arrested in Val-d'Issoire by the Bordeaux special forces at around 6:15am local time (5:15am BST) on Tuesday morning, the report added.
The suspect is reportedly known to the police for acts of violence against people in authority.
The Limoges town hall erupted in a huge blaze during the widespread protests in France on Saturday.
Marseille to impose 10pm curfew for minors on Tuesday
11:22 , Alex CroftMarseille is set to impose a curfew for minors from 10pm local time on Tuesday, a source has told AFP.
The curfew will begin at 10pm (9pm BST) and end at 5am (4am BST), and will be repeated each night at least until Friday.
It will be placed in certain areas, including around shopping centres, and will not affect the entire city of Marseille, according to Le Figaro.
Further details of the curfew will be shared this afternoon by the Bouches-du-Rhona prefecture.
New curfews to be decided after restrictions 'contributed to the calm', says French PM
10:56 , Alex CroftFrench prime minister Sebastien Lecornu has said new, targeted curfews will be decided “where the situation requires it” in France tonight.
“Targeted curfews have contributed to the calm of this night,” the Mr Lecornu said on X.
“I thank the police officers and gendarmes who ensured their enforcement, as well as the prefects for their mobilization.”
He added: “Tonight, new curfews will be decided where the situation requires it. These decisions will be made on the ground, by the prefects, in coordination with the mayors.”
France is on fire. Will protests spread to the UK?
10:25 , Alex CroftEuropean stocks slide after France protests
09:53 , Alex CroftEuropean shares extended losses on Tuesday as investors weighed the impact of political instability in France, which has dampened risk appetite across regional markets.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index was down 0.27% at 637.84 points shortly after 8am BST, after slipping 0.8% in the previous session. France's benchmark CAC 40 index edged 0.2% lower.
Late on Monday, French authorities set curfews in parts of several cities including Paris, Lille and Nice a weekend of riots and looting stemming from nationwide anti-government protests.
The protests have intensified pressure on the euro zone's second-largest economy, which is grappling with soft economic growth and ballooning government debt.
The unrest also underscores the challenges the government faces in reducing its large deficit.
With Reuters
In pictures: France’s protests spread across the country
09:19 , Shahana Yasmin
The European cities facing protests from Paris to Milan as continent gripped by cost of living crisis
08:50 , Shahana YasminViolent protests have broken out across Europe amid growing frustration over the cost of living crisis, a lack of affordable housing, and deteriorating school conditions.
As many as 550,000 people turned out across France on Saturday, according to authorities, to demonstrate against declining public services. Protests turned violent in Paris as shops were looted and cars set on fire in some of the city’s worst violence in years.
Young people waved Italian flags and let off flares in Milan as they rallied against the rising cost of living in scenes that were condemned by prime minister Giorgia Meloni.
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All the European cities on fire after a weekend of violent protests
Could we see France’s chaotic protests spread to the UK?
08:30 , Shahana YasminProtesters call for fresh demonstrations across France on Saturday
08:10 , Shahana YasminFrance’s Yellow Vest movement has called for a fresh round of demonstrations on Saturday, after protests over the cost of living descended into violence and looting in several cities over the weekend.
The organisers have dubbed the next mobilisation “Act II” and published a map showing dozens of actions planned across the country. They have also called for demonstrations on 31 October, ahead of a nationwide day of strikes and protests planned by trade unions for 5 November.
Benjamin Ball, editor of the website 17octobregiletjaune.net, which has helped coordinate the protests, told AFP there had been “an enormous push” for another round of demonstrations.
“We’re maintaining momentum for 5 November, but we’ll build step by step,” he said.
The 5 November call is backed by five major unions and is expected to focus on wages, jobs, public services, and industry.
Prices have risen 23% since Macron took office, data shows
07:50 , Shahana YasminPrices in France have risen by 23.4 per cent since Emmanuel Macron became president in 2017, while median salaries have grown by 22.8 per cent, according to an analysis by Le Monde.
The rising cost of living has fuelled public anger, with hundreds of thousands of people taking to the streets over the weekend to demand change. The demonstrations, which began amid anger over school conditions, also reflected wider frustration over living costs and public services.
Oil and gas prices have climbed since the conflict in the Middle East began, pushing inflation up again, according to France’s national statistics office INSEE. Heatwaves and drought have also made fresh food more expensive, while grocery bills could rise further as farmers pass on higher costs to consumers.
Lower-income households have cut back on food spending, buying less, or switching to cheaper products. Inequality is also growing, with the wealthiest 20 per cent of households accounting for 38.8 per cent of the country’s total standard of living.
Trump blames France riots on immigration, claims Paris will soon be a ‘Muslim city’
07:30 , Shahana YasminDonald Trump has blamed the unrest in France on immigration, claiming Paris will soon become a “Muslim city” and urged president Emmanuel Macron to close the country’s borders.
Speaking to reporters outside the White House on Monday, Trump said he had warned Macron about his immigration policies when they first met, around eight or nine years ago.
“He’s a friend of mine. I told him a long time ago, you’re making a big mistake in France. You’re letting everybody from the world come in,” Trump said. “The whole world was coming in. And as you know, Paris is going to be a Muslim city very soon, and that wasn’t the deal.”
Trump dismissed the suggestion that the unrest was driven by domestic grievances, saying: “What’s happening in France has to do with immigration, not schools, not anything.”
Earlier on Monday, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that migrants had “taken over France” and they should “close the borders, fast”.
France may impose fresh curfews tonight after calmer night, says PM
07:10 , Shahana YasminFrench prime minister Sébastien Lecornu said targeted curfews in parts of Paris and other cities helped maintain “the calm of this night” after protests that descended into rioting and looting.
“I thank the police officers and gendarmes who ensured their enforcement, as well as the prefects for their mobilisation. Tonight, new curfews will be decided where the situation requires it. These decisions will be made on the ground, by the prefects, in coordination with the mayors,” he wrote in a post on X.
The curfews were introduced on Monday after violent groups targeted shops and public buildings across France over the weekend. In Paris, restrictions covered areas around Place de la République and Les Halles, while several northern cities imposed overnight curfews for minors.
Limoges mayor says city has lost 'architectural gem' after town hall set ablaze during France protests
06:50 , Shahana YasminFrance tells Vinted and eBay to remove listings of goods stolen during riots
06:30 , Shahana YasminFrance has called on online marketplaces including Vinted and eBay to remove listings for items suspected of being stolen during the weekend’s looting.
“Stolen goods from this weekend are being offered for sale on certain platforms. Such behaviors will not go unpunished. We will not let them slide,” digital affairs minister Anne Le Hénanff wrote on X. “We expect these platforms to remove the listings in question without delay,” she added, writing that the platforms are expected to work with authorities to identify sellers of potentially stolen goods.
Small businesses minister Serge Papin said the government was working on coordination between investigators and online platforms to identify people behind suspicious listings. A specific protocol is expected to be introduced, according to a government source who spoke to Politico.
Vinted said they have a “zero-tolerance policy” on the sale of stolen goods and that it had taken “immediate action to identify and remove listings that may involve stolen goods”.
Trump holds up France riots as warning to US voters ahead of midterms
06:10 , Shahana YasminUS president Donald Trump has pointed to the riots in France to warn Americans of what he says could happen if Democrats win the midterm elections next month.
“We're not going to let that happen to this country,” Trump said at a rally on Monday, before adding: “When you see burning steeples and raging fires in France, just remember that is what the radical Dumocrats want to do to America.”
The rally was in support of Republican Senator Roger Marshall, who is facing a close contest against Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton ahead of the 3 November midterm elections.
France is on fire. Will it spread to the UK?
05:50 , Shahana YasminThe massive explosion of anger and unrest in France has spread like wildfire across Europe – and Britain has no special reason to think it will not be next, says Sean O’Grady
France is on fire. Will it spread to the UK?
Louvre remains closed after students blockade Paris museum
05:30 , Shahana YasminThe Louvre in Paris remained closed to visitors on Monday after students blocked its entrances in solidarity with the high school protests that have spread across France.
The blockade was led by students from art history school École du Louvre, who gathered outside the museum early in the morning. Management decided not to open at its scheduled time of 9am, with barriers preventing visitors from entering.
A leaflet distributed at the entrances declared: “We are proud to announce that we are blocking the world's largest museum.” It accused the government of neglecting public services and called for better conditions for students and workers, and an end to what it described as unacceptable police repression, according to Le Figaro.
The students said they wanted to support high school pupils demanding better educational conditions and call for increased funding for education and culture.
At least 2,400 arrested over weekend of violence in France
05:10 , Shahana YasminFrench authorities arrested at least 2,400 people after a weekend of rioting and looting that saw shops ransacked and public buildings attacked across the country.
Nearly 1,000 members of the security forces were injured, according to Le Monde.
Alain Di Crescenzo, president of France's chambers of commerce network, estimated that damage to businesses could run into “hundreds of millions of euros”. The government has promised support for affected businesses, including measures to help employers temporarily reduce working hours.
The violence followed weeks of student demonstrations over teacher shortages and poor school conditions. The movement has since expanded, drawing trade unionists and other demonstrators angry over rising prices and the state of public services.
France imposes curfews for minors in Lille, Nice, and Bordeaux
04:50 , Shahana YasminCurfews for minors have been introduced in several French cities following a weekend of rioting and looting, with restrictions in some areas set to remain in place until next week.
In designated areas of Lille, Douai, Wattignies, and Denain, unaccompanied minors are subject to a curfew from 8pm to 6am for two nights. Nice has introduced a nightly curfew for minors in specified neighbourhoods from 9pm to 6am until 25 October.
In Bordeaux, unaccompanied minors are barred from specified areas between 10pm and 7am until 26 October.
In Paris, police announced a separate curfew from 11pm on Monday until 6am on Tuesday in designated areas around Place de la République, where rioting took place on Saturday, and Les Halles, a shopping district targeted by looters.
Demonstrations were also banned in other designated areas of the capital from 8pm on Monday until 6am on Tuesday.
Lyon has imposed a curfew in part of its city centre from 9pm on Monday until 6am on Tuesday.
France imposes curfews after riots leave nearly 3,000 shops affected
04:10 , Shahana YasminFrance has imposed localised curfews and protest restrictions after a weekend of rioting left nearly 3,000 shops affected, hundreds of police officers injured, and a historic town hall partially destroyed by fire.
The protests, which began last month over poor conditions in schools, have grown into a broader movement against the rising cost of living and deteriorating public services.
Prime minister Sébastien Lecornu called for localised curfews to restore order, saying: “I’m absolutely determined to restore public order,” and added that a state of emergency could be imposed “if needed”.
President Emmanuel Macron has refused to accept the resignation of interior minister Laurent Nuñez, who acknowledged that police had lost control during the unrest. “You couldn't look shopkeepers in the eye after hundreds of shops had been looted and say we hadn't lost control,” he said.
Protest organisers have called for another round of demonstrations on Saturday, raising the prospect of further clashes as the authorities prepare to tighten security.
Watch: Unfazed jogger casually runs through chaotic Paris protests
03:54 , Maira ButtWhere have curfews been issued in France?
03:00 , Maira ButtA source in French prime minister Sebastien Lecornu's office said that a curfew for minors had been set between 8pm and 6am for the next two days in Lille, Douai, Wattignies and Denain with the agreement of local mayors.
Paris police said they had issued orders barring protests in certain areas of the French capital from 8pm and had issued a curfew around the Place de la Republique and Les Halles from 10pm. Both would remain in effect until 6am on Tuesday morning.
In Nice, mayor Eric Ciotti said in a video posted online that he had signed an order installing a curfew for minors in central Nice overnight.
Marseille has banned gatherings and demonstrations. Meanwhile, French unions called for a new round of strikes and rallies on 5 November.
Milan luxury shops close for fear of new unrest as government prepares to deploy troops
02:00 , Maira ButtItaly’s deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini said that the government will dispatch 500 army troops to "defend Milan" after two days of unrest that saw demonstrators clash with police, loot shops and vandalise property.
The deployment is expected to be included in a series of security measures to be approved at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
Shops in central Milan closed early on Monday and boarded up their windows, fearing a fresh outbreak of violence in Italy’s financial capital.
Travel warnings to France issued amid unrest
01:00 , Maira ButtGovernments across Europe and Asia have issued warnings to citizens travelling to France amid nationwide protests that have led to unrest.
Countries including China advised travellers to avoid large crowds and exercise caution citing a deterioration in security conditions.
The protests have tackled rising costs and declining public services. Foreign ministries including Italy, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark in Europe and China and Malaysia in Asia urged their citizens to exercise caution when visiting France.
On Monday the US also advised its citizens to avoid areas affected by protests.
Video report: Could we see France’s chaotic protests spread to the UK?
Tuesday 20 October 2026 00:01 , Maira ButtItaly to dispatch 500 troops to 'defend Milan' after protests and looting
Monday 19 October 2026 23:00 , Maira ButtItaly's government will dispatch 500 army troops to "defend Milan" after two days of unrest that saw demonstrators clash with police, loot shops and vandalise property.
The troop deployment, announced Monday by Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, is expected to form part of a package of security measures due to go before a cabinet meeting expected Tuesday.
Luxury stores on Milan's Via Montenapoleone cleared their windows Monday and shut early, bracing for a return of the violence that hit the city over the weekend. Brands including Chanel, Tiffany and Dior took merchandise out of their displays as a precaution as police patrolled the street, where a handful of tourists looked on.
Italy dispatching 500 troops to 'defend Milan' after protests and looting
Explained: What sparked the fiery protests in France – and how they could spread across Europe
Monday 19 October 2026 22:30 , James ReynoldsThe protests sweeping France first erupted in September in a high school in Creteil, southeast of Paris, over a lack of staff.
From there, class strikes, blockades and demonstrations spread to other Paris suburbs and then nationwide, even in smaller towns. Hundreds of schools had to close because of damage or attacks on staff.
Hundreds of thousands of protesters have since taken to the streets across the country to air frustrations over the cost of living and public services.
Here’s everything you need to know about the movement:
What sparked the fiery protests in France – and how they could spread across Europe
In pictures: Protests cause disruption across France
Monday 19 October 2026 22:00 , Maira Butt
Fire at town hall 'affects us just as much as that of Notre-Dame', says Darmanin
Monday 19 October 2026 21:45 , Maira ButtA fire at Limoges town hall over the weekend is just as terrible as the fire of Notre-Dame, justice minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Monday.
“The fire at Limoges town hall affects us just as much as that of Notre-Dame,” he told TFI.
“I want to assure the mayor of Limoges, Guillaume Guérin, as well as the residents that we are taking the situation very seriously.
“The national anti-terrorism prosecutor's office has positioned itself as an observer. It is carefully assessing the situation and will determine in the coming hours whether it takes charge of this case.”
A structural fire broke out at the cathedral in 2019.
Commercial courts to be convened to enable businesses to be compensated
Monday 19 October 2026 21:30 , Maira ButtJustice minister Gerald Darmanin has said that he is convening commercial courts to enable businesses to pursue civil actions and be compensated amid looting and violence across France.
“I will convene this Wednesday all the commercial courts concerned to support all the merchant victims, enable them to file a complaint or seek civil liability in order to be compensated for the loss of the fruit of a lifetime of work,” he told TFI.
Footage and images from France over the weekend showed shops and luxury stores being broken into and looted by masked intruders.
Police custody to be extended and phone tapping and facial recognition used to identify culprits, says Darmanin
Monday 19 October 2026 21:12 , Maira ButtFrance’s justice minister Gerald Darmanin has said that facial recognition software and phone tapping will be used to identify people involved in unrest and “violence and looting”. He added that police custody for alleged culprits would also be extended for up to 72 hours.
“Under this regime, police custody may be extended up to 72 hours, geolocation and telephone tapping will be possible, and, for the first time in this context, we will resort to facial recognition to identify those who claim responsibility for violence and looting, particularly on social networks,” he told TFI and shared a post to X after the interview.
Criminal response will be 'unrelenting', says justice minister
Monday 19 October 2026 21:06 , Maira ButtFrance’s justice minister Gerald Darmanin has said that the criminal response to unrest amid nationwide protests will be “unrelenting”.
Speaking to TFI, he said: “I have given instructions that the criminal response be unrelenting. We must show extreme firmness toward the rioters who attack public buildings or businesses, and those who target law enforcement or firefighters.”
‘We are the shame of Europe’: France imposes curfews to stop growing riots
Monday 19 October 2026 21:00 , Maira ButtFrench cities were plunged into lockdown on Monday night following a weekend of anti-government protests that descended into violent riots.
Marseille mayor Benoit Payan said France had become“the shame of Europe” as new measures were announced banning public gatherings in some of the country’s most iconic destinations from 10pm to 6am.
Sections of Paris, Lille and Marseille are among the cities affected, with more expected to follow after an appeal from prime minister Sebastien Lecornu Monday morning.
James C Reynolds reports:
‘We are the shame of Europe’: France imposes curfews to stop growing riots
