Curfews bring calm to Paris after protests over living costs turn into riots across France
Summary
Protesters against rising living costs rallied across France on Saturday 17 October, joining high school students demanding better education conditions, and protesters in Paris set cars on fire and looted shops, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the LA Times reported, Business Insider citing Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez's count of 550,000 protesters, nearly 800,000 according to the Confédération Générale du Travail. On 18 October police arrested at least 1,800 people, according to the LA Times and ABC News, and President Emmanuel Macron said in a televised address that 'those who sought to bring down the Republic will be held accountable,' PBS NewsHour reported. On 19 October, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu instructed prefects to impose 'very limited' and 'localized' curfews in cities, The Philadelphia Inquirer and PBS NewsHour reported, CBS News reporting that French leaders say an 'ultra-left movement' was behind the violence, and ABC News that Nuñez offered to resign but Macron asked the minister to stay. On 20 October, Paris returned to calm after its first quiet night since a weekend marred by France's most destructive rioting in years, PBS NewsHour and The Philadelphia Inquirer reported, the LA Times reporting at least 2,400 arrests and CNBC that Lecornu said some areas would remain under curfew. On 21 October Macron blasted as 'stupid' claims by Donald Trump and others blaming Muslim migrants for the riots, the Inquirer and ABC News reported.
Latest: French President Emmanuel Macron criticised foreign leaders, including Donald Trump, for exploiting the unrest in France for political gain, blasting as 'stupid' claims by Trump and others blaming Muslim migrants for the riots, The Philadelphia Inquirer and ABC News reported, the Inquirer having reported that Trump and leading Republicans were trying to leverage the riots ahead of the midterm elections with unsubstantiated claims that the social unrest in Europe is caused by Muslim migrants.
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How it unfolded
Wednesday 21 October
French President Emmanuel Macron criticised foreign leaders, including Donald Trump, for exploiting the unrest in France for political gain, blasting as 'stupid' claims by Trump and others blaming Muslim migrants for the riots, The Philadelphia Inquirer and ABC News reported, the Inquirer having reported that Trump and leading Republicans were trying to leverage the riots ahead of the midterm elections with unsubstantiated claims that the social unrest in Europe is caused by Muslim migrants.
Tuesday 20 October
Paris returned to calm on Tuesday after its first quiet night since a weekend marred by France's most destructive rioting in years, PBS NewsHour and The Philadelphia Inquirer reported, the LA Times reporting that at least 2,400 people were arrested after Saturday's rioting, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu saying some areas would remain under curfew, according to CNBC, and NBC News reporting that curfews were in effect after violent protests engulfed France.
- 14:15The Philadelphia InquirerFACT FOCUS: Trump and Republicans blame France's immigrants for riots without evidence
- 12:45PBS NewsHourCurfews bring calm to Paris as France cracks down on weekend rioters
- 10:23LA TimesCurfews bring calm to Paris as France cracks down on weekend rioters
- 08:58The Philadelphia InquirerCurfews bring calm to Paris as France cracks down on weekend rioters
- 04:34CNBCFrance curfews calm unrest as Macron faces criticism over Gulf trip
Monday 19 October
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu instructed prefects to impose 'very limited' and 'localized' curfews in cities to prevent more rioting and looting, The Philadelphia Inquirer and PBS NewsHour reported, after groups set fires and looted businesses in Paris, Lyon, Marseille and other cities on Sunday evening, NBC News describing France as reeling from its worst violence in years, and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez offered to resign over the weekend's rioting and looting but President Emmanuel Macron asked the minister to stay, ABC News reported.
- 19:31NBC NewsCurfews in effect after violent protests engulf France
- 17:18CS MonitorAfter violent weekend, France reckons with its frustrated, fractured public
- 09:23NBC NewsDramatic images show violent unrest sweeping across France
- 09:13CBS NewsFrance vows to crack down after protests spiral out of control
- 08:22The Philadelphia InquirerFrance's prime minister calls for localized curfews in cities to curb rioting and looting
- 08:07PBS NewsHourFrench Prime Minister Lecornu calls for localized curfews in cities to curb rioting and looting
- 06:53NBC NewsFrance moves to impose curfews as it reels from worst violence in years
- 06:04ABC NewsMacron rejects minister’s resignation as rioting and looting expose policing failures
Sunday 18 October
Paris police reported 855 arrests, according to ABC News, police arrested at least 1,800 people across France, according to the LA Times and ABC News, Business Insider reporting more than 2,000 arrests according to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez on X and about 50 Carrefour stores targeted by rioters according to the chain's chief executive, and in a televised address President Emmanuel Macron said that 'those who sought to bring down the Republic will be held accountable,' PBS NewsHour reported.
- 18:39NBC NewsFrench president speaks out on violent nationwide unrest across France
- 15:00PBS NewsHourFrance's Macron vows to hold accountable those who 'sought to bring down the Republic'
- 13:53ABC NewsMacron to address nation after riots and looting lead to 1,800 arrests across France
- 13:48The Philadelphia InquirerMacron to address nation after riots and looting lead to 1,800 arrests across France
- 13:24Business InsiderFrench business leaders call for order after riots and looting: 'The Republic must protect its shopkeepers!'
- 11:16LA TimesFrench police arrest 1,800 after violent clashes and looting mar protests
- 10:55Business InsiderCarrefour CEO says 50 of its stores and almost 20 supermarkets were ransacked during riots in France
- 08:54CS MonitorFrench police arrest 1,800 after violent clashes and looting mar protests
- 06:28ABC NewsParis police report 855 arrests after violent clashes and looting during protests
- 06:10The Philadelphia InquirerParis police report 855 arrests after violent clashes and looting during protests
Saturday 17 October
Protests over rising living costs and student grievances erupted across France, and protesters in Paris set cars on fire and looted shops as police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse them, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the LA Times reported, CBS News describing tear gas against people in hoods and masks throwing fireworks and other objects at officers in the Place de la République.
- 23:54Business InsiderFrance is aflame as peaceful protests over the cost of living devolve into chaos and looting
- 14:42LA TimesClashes and fires break out as protesters rally across France, joining students
- 12:15The Philadelphia InquirerClashes and fires break out as protesters rally across France, joining students
- 09:26The Philadelphia InquirerScuffles and fires break out as protesters rally across France, joining students
- 09:13CBS NewsProtests erupt in France against living costs, support of students
- 06:08ABC NewsProtesters across France rally over rising living costs, joining students' grievances
- 05:18The Philadelphia InquirerProtesters across France rally over rising living costs, joining students' grievances