France Extends Nightly Curfews in Several Cities Amid Ongoing Unrest
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, French officials have extended nightly curfews in sections of Paris and Lyon following days of extensive unrest. The Paris police reported that the implementation of the curfew in two areas of the city, around the Place de la République and the commercial district of Le Marais, has helped restore overnight calm, and these restrictions will continue as long as necessary.
In Lyon, authorities also extended the nightly curfew from 9 PM to 6 AM in the city center. In Marseille, nighttime movement restrictions were imposed on individuals under the legal age who are unaccompanied, beginning Tuesday night.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced in the National Assembly that security forces will be deployed on a large scale for Saturday’s protests. Without specifying troop numbers, he stated that security measures to control gatherings will be increased. Additionally, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced that military forces involved in the “Sentinelle” counter-terrorism operation will assume responsibility for protecting sensitive sites, allowing police and gendarmerie to allocate more personnel to crowd control and addressing unrest.
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin reported the arrest of a suspect in the arson of the historic Limoges municipal building, noting that the individual may not have acted alone. French media have indicated that the suspect had ties to radical environmental groups and was listed as a potential national security threat.
According to Associated Press reports, approximately 2,400 people have been arrested in various French cities since Saturday’s protests. During the disturbances, protesters clashed with police, set vehicles ablaze, and attacked some public buildings and stores. Darmanin stated that by Tuesday afternoon, 149 individuals had been imprisoned nationwide. The French Ministry of Justice also announced that over 800 of those arrested have been referred to judicial authorities.
Meanwhile, the French National Assembly has initiated an investigation into the violence of October 17th and the conduct of security forces. The findings of this inquiry are expected to be presented by the end of the current year. Protests continued on a smaller scale Tuesday, with hundreds of students and protesters gathering in the cities of Rennes and Lyon.
