Curfew Step in France After Violent Incidents

France is preparing to implement curfews following protests that spread to major cities over the weekend and witnessed some of the most violent incidents of recent years. While buildings and businesses were damaged in many centers, including Limoges and Paris, authorities requested partial curfews in certain regions.

During the violent incidents that spread across the country over the weekend, a 19th-century town hall in Limoges completely burned down and its roof collapsed, while in Paris, the Louvre Museum was closed following a protest blockade announcement. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, in a statement after an emergency crisis meeting, described it as a miracle that no one lost their lives and stated that approximately 3,000 businesses were looted or vandalized.

According to Ministry of Interior data, more than half a million people participated in demonstrations nationwide, approximately 2,400 people were detained, and nearly a thousand police officers and firefighters were injured. While President Emmanuel Macron blamed far-left groups for the violence, government officials acknowledged that control was lost in major cities.