Paris Returns To Calm After Violent Protests As France Imposes Curfews, Arrests Over 2,400 People

Paris settled into a peaceful night on Tuesday after a weekend marked by the most violent protests in France in years. Authorities imposed curfews in several cities to curb further unrest and looting. Over 2,400 individuals were arrested during Saturday's clashes, which saw protesters set vehicles ablaze, invade public buildings, and torch a historic city hall. The violence erupted during nationwide demonstrations against rising living costs and inadequate school conditions.

On Sunday evening, smaller groups continued the unrest, setting fire to rubbish bins, bicycles, and other items and looting businesses in Paris, Lyon, Marseille, and other cities. Cities that enforced a curfew on Monday experienced a generally calm night after the October 17 protests turned violent. Despite criticism from citizens, the French government maintained the curfew where necessary on Tuesday night.

In Paris, a police helicopter patrolled Place de la République, a key site of the clashes, using a searchlight to ensure compliance with restrictions. Early Tuesday, municipal workers removed a large yellow vest draped over the center square's statue. This vest symbolized the "yellow vest" protests that started in 2018, protesting fuel prices and causing significant unrest during President Emmanuel Macron's first term.

To aid in the cleanup, workers used pressure washers to remove graffiti from the monument. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu stated on Tuesday that the targeted curfews had helped maintain calm the previous night. He added that additional curfews would be implemented where necessary, with local prefects—representatives of the state at the regional level—and mayors making decisions in coordination.

Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin announced that 149 people had been jailed nationwide by Tuesday noon. Over 2,500 arrests had been made since Saturday, with more than 800 individuals brought before prosecutors. Most of those arrested were either immediately tried or ordered to appear in court at later dates. Darmanin emphasized that people with no criminal record were rarely imprisoned for property crimes in France, and the justice system would be "extremely firm."

Three men aged between 20 and 25, all without prior criminal records, were sentenced to 10 months in prison in Lille for looting a video game store in the city's historic district. Authorities are investigating the October 17 violence, and the National Assembly, France's lower house of parliament, has launched an inquiry into the unrest and the policing response. The inquiry will examine the protests and how law enforcement agencies handled the situation, with findings expected by the end of the year.