French police launch curfews in Paris and other cities to quell riots

Overnight curfews have been introduced in Paris and other French cities as Australians visiting the country are being urged to be extra vigilant.

France’s worst rioting in years over past days has targeted city halls, other public buildings and thousands of businesses across the country.

In an update, Paris police said the movement of people was prohibited from 11pm on October 19 until 6am on October 20.

The order aims to protect “people and property from the violence and looting,” the Paris police statement said.

The curfew prohibits anyone from entering or remaining on the Place de la Republique, where rioting took place Saturday, and the shopping neighbourhood of Les Halles, which has been subject to looting.

The ban prohibits people from carrying any weapons, fireworks or dangerous flammables such as petrol, oil and gas.

The south-eastern cities of Nice and Lyon have also introduced limited curfews.

The Australian government’s Smartraveller service on Tuesday advised citizens to be extra vigilant.

“Exercise a high degree of caution in France due to the threat of terrorism.”

“Authorities may impose public safety measures, including partial and localised curfews, in some locations. Follow the advice of authorities, stay informed and avoid demonstrations and areas with significant police activity.”

Police response under scrutiny

Earlier, the French prime minister has called for “very limited” and “localised” curfews after a weekend marred by France’s worst rioting in years that targeted city halls, other public buildings and thousands of businesses across the country.

Speaking after an emergency meeting with senior government officials, Sébastien Lecornu defended police handling of the unrest, saying “despite scenes of severe violence and extensive property damage, no one was killed, and that is a miracle”.

He said details of the curfews would be announced later on Monday (Tuesday AEDT) after consultations with mayors.

Mass protests in France are often tainted by violence on the fringes of otherwise peaceful marches, leading to clashes with police.

Saturday's unrest recalled the riots that followed the fatal police shooting of a teenager in 2023, when authorities imposed local curfews, and violence during the yellow vest movement that began in 2018 over fuel prices and broader economic grievances.

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Macron rejects interior minister's resignation 

The prime minister's instructions came after Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez offered his resignation on Sunday, but President Emmanuel Macron refused it "given the need for continued command of law enforcement in the current context," Macron's office said in a statement Monday.

He instructed Nuñez "to take all necessary steps to ensure full transparency about the failures in planning and intelligence-gathering that led to the violence", the statement said.

Macron also asked for the introduction of "new policing tactics on the ground as quickly as possible" to put an end to the violence.

On Sunday evening, groups set fire to rubbish bins, bicycles and other objects in the streets and looted businesses in Paris, Lyon, Marseille and other cities. That followed the violence during nationwide protests on Saturday against rising living costs and poor conditions in schools. At least 2400 people were arrested across the country.

Authorities estimated on Monday that at least 3000 businesses were damaged or looted in several cities.

In Marseille, the prefect banned any protest or other gatherings from noon to 8pm on Monday (9pm Monday to 5am Tuesday AEDT).

Nuñez blamed the violence on "hordes of troublemakers and looters" and "far-left activists", and said police strategy needs to be adapted "in the face of extremely mobile groups”.

Authorities said groups of hundreds of people sought confrontations with police and targeted public buildings, including city halls and other public offices.

"I submitted my resignation because I am responsible for everything that is happening," Nuñez said on France Inter radio. 

"Now the real issue is ensuring that this doesn't happen again. … We obviously need to be better at anticipating the kind of mobilisation that is unfolding."

Shopkeepers assess damage 

Nuñez acknowledged that authorities had "lost control" in some major cities on Saturday.

"You can't look shopkeepers in the eye when hundreds of businesses have been looted and say we haven't lost control in some of these major cities," Nuñez said.

Flames engulfed the 19th-century City Hall in Limoges, in central France, causing its roof to collapse and nearly destroying the building.

On Monday, clean-up crews and firefighters cleared shattered glass and other debris from the streets of Paris.

Ouri Zagoury, owner of a video game shop near Paris' Place de la République, said he closed the store on Saturday afternoon but then saw looters forcing their way in on surveillance cameras.

"There were so many people coming in and out. And even though I called the police, they said not to intervene, that they would come, but they never did, which is another problem," Zagoury said.

Jordan Bardella, president of the far-right National Rally, pointed to the government's failure to prevent violence.

"The government has failed, the head of state has failed in his essential duty of protecting the French people," he told reporters at party headquarters.

"I call on the people of France now, beyond their right to protest, to use their voting power," Bardella said. He is campaigning alongside far-right leader Marine Le Pen, whose polling numbers have for months suggested she is the front-runner in next spring's presidential election.