France imposed an overnight curfew in parts of Paris on Monday, October 19, following a weekend of violent protests and widespread looting, as Italy announced plans to send 500 additional soldiers to Milan after similar unrest.
The security measures mark an escalation in the response to demonstrations that have brought hundreds of thousands of people onto European streets over rising living costs, deteriorating public services and education-related grievances.
French authorities reported approximately 2,400 arrests following the protests. In Italy, police detained more than 270 people during unrest in Milan on Sunday, while anti-government demonstrations continued in neighboring Albania.
Paris Imposes Curfew After Weekend of Violence
Paris police ordered an overnight curfew in two central areas of the French capital, Place de la République and Les Halles, from 11 p.m. Monday until 6 a.m. Tuesday.
The restrictions prohibit people from entering or remaining in the designated areas during those hours. Police also banned demonstrations and public gatherings in parts of the city from 8 p.m.
The measures are localized rather than citywide. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu rejected a blanket curfew, arguing that restrictions should be targeted at areas affected by violence.
Other French cities introduced additional security measures. Authorities in Lille and several nearby municipalities imposed nighttime curfews for minors, while Nice also restricted the movement of young people overnight. Marseille prohibited demonstrations and gatherings during specified hours.
The decisions followed two days of disturbances in which groups of rioters attacked police, smashed storefronts, erected burning barricades and looted businesses.
The violence emerged alongside nationwide demonstrations on Saturday, October 17, that initially brought together students, trade union members and people protesting rising prices and declining public services.
Hundreds of thousands participated in the demonstrations peacefully. However, groups of individuals subsequently engaged in violent confrontations with police in Paris, Marseille, Lyon and other cities.
The damage extended beyond commercial districts. In Limoges, central France, a fire severely damaged the city’s historic town hall, causing part of its roof to collapse.
France’s Federation of Trade and Retail reported that almost 3,000 shops had been affected by the weekend’s unrest.
Macron Rejects Interior Minister’s Resignation
The disturbances have also exposed serious questions about the preparedness of France’s security services.
President Emmanuel Macron rejected Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez’s offer to resign and instead ordered him to address the violence and investigate failures in intelligence gathering and security planning.
The interior minister acknowledged that authorities had lost control in some major cities during Saturday’s unrest.
The mayors of Paris, Marseille and Lyon also criticized the police response, arguing that parts of their cities had been left without sufficient protection as violent groups targeted businesses and public property.
The political pressure comes as Macron approaches the end of his second presidential term, with France scheduled to hold its next presidential election in 2027.
The original demonstrations began in September among students protesting inadequate school facilities, teacher shortages and education policies. They subsequently broadened into a movement involving labor unions and other groups demanding action on living costs and public services.
French labor unions have already called for another round of strikes and demonstrations on November 5
Italy Announces 500 Additional Soldiers for Milan
Italy is also strengthening its security response after a weekend of clashes and looting in Milan, the country’s financial and fashion capital.
Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini announced Monday that the government would dispatch 500 additional soldiers to the city.
The proposed deployment is expected to be included in a wider security package scheduled for consideration by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Cabinet on Tuesday.
The announcement followed disturbances that began Saturday after a demonstration over living costs and public services.
Although the initial march was peaceful, masked groups later clashed with riot police, set barricades ablaze, damaged vehicles and broke into stores around the city’s commercial center.
According to Italian police, 271 people were detained during Sunday’s protests. Of those taken to police stations, 32 were arrested, including 23 minors.
On Monday, several businesses in Milan’s luxury shopping district closed early or boarded up their storefronts as police increased patrols over fears of further violence.
Meloni convened government ministers and security officials to discuss additional measures, including proposals to address violence involving minors.
Similar incidents were also reported in other northern Italian cities, including Turin and Bologna.
Albania Faces Continued Anti-Government Protests
Meanwhile, demonstrations continued in Albania, where students have joined a broader anti-government movement demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
The protests in the capital, Tirana, have involved repeated confrontations between police and demonstrators, with government buildings, banks and commercial properties damaged during several days of unrest.
Student organizers have raised concerns about university conditions, education costs and limited employment opportunities. Their demonstrations have converged with an existing movement opposing alleged corruption and a controversial coastal tourism development project.
Albanian authorities have condemned attacks on public buildings and police officers, while protesters have continued to demand political accountability and reforms.
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