France sends in troops as Paris simmers in aftermath of riots

French soldiers will reinforce police on the streets of Paris as the government continues a crackdown on would-be rioters, following reports of fresh protests expected for the weekend. According to PBS NewsHour, Paris saw its first calm night on Tuesday after a weekend of destructive rioting. Authorities have imposed curfews in several cities to prevent further looting and rioting.

The unrest, which included nationwide protests against poor school conditions and rising living costs, resulted in at least 2,400 arrests. PBS NewsHour reported that rioters clashed with police, set cars on fire, stormed public buildings, and burned a historic city hall. On Sunday evening, small groups looted businesses and set fire to bicycles, trash bins, and other objects in cities including Paris, Marseille, and Lyon.

The social and security situation has impacted business, with Investing.com reporting that retailer Carrefour reduced its 2026 targets for free cash flow and operating profit margin growth. The company noted that many of its stores were damaged during the weekend riots and cited high energy costs affecting consumer spending.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, Investing.com, PBS NewsHour — 4 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.