France has imposed partial curfews across the country, including in Paris and Nice, after riots and looting amid nationwide protests over the weekend.
Curfews have been ordered in Lille, Douai, Wattignies, and Denain with the agreement of local mayors, according to prime minister Sebastien Lecornu’s office.
Nice mayor Eric Ciotti said a curfew for minors had been installed in the city overnight, while Marseille has banned demonstrations.
In Paris, police have prohibited protests in designated areas from 8pm and imposed a curfew around Place de la République and Les Halles from 10pm until 6am on Tuesday.
Thousands of people have been arrested for taking part in the protests and justice minister Gérald Darmanin has promised an “unrelenting” response to violence, saying authorities must show “extreme firmness toward the rioters who attack public buildings or businesses, and those who target law enforcement or firefighters.”
Meanwhile, US president Donald Trump has attempted to use the unrest ahead of next month’s midterm elections, telling a rally on Monday: “We're not going to let that happen to this country.
“When you see burning steeples and raging fires in France, just remember that is what the radical Dumocrats want to do to America.”
Read MoreWhat sparked the fiery protests in France – and how they could spread across Europe
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More than 1,800 arrested as protesters clash with police across France over rising living costs
Key Points
- Where have curfews been issued?
- Criminal response will be 'unrelenting', says justice minister
- Macron calls for unity but warns France 'will not yield' to protesters
- Parisians blame 'troublemakers' who turned protest into riot
- Far-left leader accuses French prime minister of 'playing with fire'
- What sparked the fiery protests in France
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.
In pictures: France’s protests spread across the country
04:30 , Shahana Yasmin
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
Watch: Unfazed jogger casually runs through chaotic Paris protests
Monday 19 October 2026 20:30 , Maira ButtWhere have curfews been issued in France?
Monday 19 October 2026 19:32 , 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 8 pm (1800 GMT) and had issued a curfew around the Place de la Republique and Les Halles from 10pm. Both would remain in effect until 6 am 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.
Recap: Fears of further violence as yellow vest protesters announce ‘Act II’ demonstrations
Monday 19 October 2026 19:30 , James ReynoldsAggrieved French protesters have announced a “second act” of mass national demonstrations after as many as 800,000 people took to the streets to demand reforms this weekend.
An online movement calling itself 17octobregiletjaune on Monday announced plans for more action on Saturday, October 24, urging “Macron must go and make way for the people!”
The Gilet Jaunes, or Yellow Vests, organised protests in France between 2018 and 2020 in response to rising fuel prices, the cost of living and economic inequality.
This weekend saw widespread protests over inequality and the rising cost of living, gaining momentum from student-led protests against conditions in schools last month.
While hundreds of thousands protested peacefully across France on Saturday, violent fringe groups targeted public buildings, looted luxury boutiques and supermarkets, and attacked police vehicles and officers.
Curfew issued for some areas in Paris, says BFMTV
Monday 19 October 2026 18:45 , Maira ButtFrench authorities have issued a curfew for Place de la Republique and the streets around Les Halles in Paris from 2000 GMT on Monday night until 0400 GMT on Tuesday, French broadcaster BFM reported on Monday.
Earlier prime minister Sebastien Lecornu had ruled out a blanket curfew on Paris.
Video report: Could we see France’s chaotic protests spread to the UK?
Monday 19 October 2026 18:30 , Maira ButtTravel warnings to France issued amid unrest
Monday 19 October 2026 18:00 , 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.
French authorities issue curfew in Lille
Monday 19 October 2026 17:30 , Maira ButtA source in the French prime minister’s office told Reuters that a curfew has been issued in Lille.
Protester’s stormed Lille city hall over the weekend, with significant unrest reported.
Lille and Marseille football clubs shut their official stores amid the vandalism and looting.
The European cities facing protests from Paris to Milan as continent gripped by cost of living crisis
Monday 19 October 2026 17:00 , James ReynoldsViolent 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 rising the rising cost of living in scenes that were condemned by prime minister Giorgia Meloni.
Tens of thousands of people meanwhile marched through central Lisbon in protest of the soaring cost of living and a deepening housing crisis, echoing weeks of demonstrations in Spain that prompted prime minister Pedro Sanchez to call a snap general election.
Here’s what to know as protests sweep Europe:
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All the European cities on fire after a weekend of violent protests
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