# France imposes curfews after weekend riots over living costs

> Paris and other cities enforce nightly curfews after the worst rioting in years, with police preparing for fresh protests Saturday.
- Title: France imposes curfews after weekend riots over living costs
- Summary: Paris and other cities enforce nightly curfews after the worst rioting in years, with police preparing for fresh protests Saturday. France imposed nightly…
- Keywords: france, paris, curfew, rioting, living costs, protests, lyon, marseille, sébastien lecornu, gérald darmanin, news, imposes
- Source: NPR — https://npr.org/2026/10/21/nx-s1-6010344/france-nightly-curfews
- Published: 2026-10-21T00:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: france, paris, curfew, rioting, living costs, protests, lyon, marseille, sébastien lecornu, gérald darmanin, news
## Curfews imposed after violent weekend
Paris and Lyon imposed nightly curfews Tuesday after France's most destructive rioting in years. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said a massive security operation was planned for new protests Saturday.
## Paris curfew zones and their scope
Paris police designated two curfew zones around Place de la République and the Les Halles shopping district, saying they had restored public peace overnight. The curfew would remain for as long as necessary.

> for as long as necessary
## Other cities enforce their own curfews
Lyon renewed a curfew in the city center from nine pm to six am, reporting no disturbances overnight. Marseille imposed a curfew for unaccompanied minors starting Tuesday night.
## What sparked the weekend violence
Nationwide protests against rising living costs and poor school conditions turned into rioting Saturday. Rioters clashed with police, set cars on fire, stormed public buildings and looted businesses across France.
## Scale of arrests and ongoing unrest
At least two thousand four hundred people were arrested after Saturday's rioting. On Sunday evening, small groups continued setting fires and looting businesses in Paris, Lyon, Marseille and other cities.
## Limoges city hall fire suspect arrested
Police arrested a suspect in the arson attack that destroyed the one hundred forty three year old Limoges city hall.
## Officials blame far-left groups, not immigration
French officials blamed the violence on far-left groups and opportunistic looters. Darmanin said far-left groups appeared to have organized to attack symbols of the state throughout France.
## Courts promise firm sentencing response
Justice Minister Darmanin said one hundred forty nine people had been jailed nationwide by Tuesday noon. He asked prosecutors to appeal any sentences considered too lenient, saying the French justice system would be extremely firm.

> extremely firm
## Parliament launches inquiry into violence
The National Assembly is launching an inquiry into the October seventeenth violence and authorities' policing strategy. Findings are expected by the end of the year.
## Smaller protests continue despite curfews
Protests continued Tuesday on a smaller scale. About four hundred people marched in Rennes and about seven hundred fifty in Lyon under pouring rain.
## Key takeaway

France imposed nightly curfews in Paris, Lyon and Marseille after weekend riots over living costs left at least two thousand four hundred arrested, with authorities preparing a massive security operation for planned protests Saturday.