France protests latest: Paris and Nice impose curfews as Trump tries to exploit riots for midterm gains

France protests latest: Paris and Nice impose curfews as Trump tries to exploit riots for midterm gains Hundreds of thousands of people protested this weekend over declining public services and rising cost-of-living pressures - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Already a member? Log in France has imposed partial curfews across the country, including in Paris and Nice, after riots and looting amid nationwide protests over the weekend. Curfews have been ordered in Lille, Douai, Wattignies, and Denain with the agreement of local mayors, according to prime minister Sebastien Lecornu’s office. Nice mayor Eric Ciotti said a curfew for minors had been installed in the city overnight, while Marseille has banned demonstrations. In Paris, police have prohibited protests in designated areas from 8pm and imposed a curfew around Place de la République and Les Halles from 10pm until 6am on Tuesday. Thousands of people have been arrested for taking part in the protests and justice minister Gérald Darmanin has promised an “unrelenting” response to violence, saying authorities must show “extreme firmness toward the rioters who attack public buildings or businesses, and those who target law enforcement or firefighters.” Meanwhile, US president Donald Trump has attempted to use the unrest ahead of next month’s midterm elections, telling a rally on Monday: “We're not going to let that happen to this country. “When you see burning steeples and raging fires in France, just remember that is what the radical Dumocrats want to do to America.” Trump holds up France riots as warning to US voters ahead of midterms US president Donald Trump has pointed to the riots in France to warn Americans of what he says could happen if Democrats win the midterm elections next month. “We're not going to let that happen to this country,” Trump said at a rally on Monday, before adding: “When you see burning steeples and raging fires in France, just remember that is what the radical Dumocrats want to do to America.” The rally was in support of Republican Senator Roger Marshall, who is facing a close contest against Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton ahead of the 3 November midterm elections. France is on fire. Will it spread to the UK? The massive explosion of anger and unrest in France has spread like wildfire across Europe – and Britain has no special reason to think it will not be next, says Sean O’Grady France is on fire. Will it spread to the UK? Louvre remains closed after students blockade Paris museum The Louvre in Paris remained closed to visitors on Monday after students blocked its entrances in solidarity with the high school protests that have spread across France. The blockade was led by students from art history school École du Louvre, who gathered outside the museum early in the morning. Management decided not to open at its scheduled time of 9am, with barriers preventing visitors from entering. A leaflet distributed at the entrances declared: “We are proud to announce that we are blocking the world's largest museum.” It accused the government of neglecting public services and called for better conditions for students and workers, and an end to what it described as unacceptable police repression, according to Le Figaro. The students said they wanted to support high school pupils demanding better educational conditions and call for increased funding for education and culture. At least 2,400 arrested over weekend of violence in France French authorities arrested at least 2,400 people after a weekend of rioting and looting that saw shops ransacked and public buildings attacked across the country. Nearly 1,000 members of the security forces were injured, according to Le Monde. Alain Di Crescenzo, president of France's chambers of commerce network, estimated that damage to businesses could run into “hundreds of millions of euros”. The government has promised support for affected businesses, including measures to help employers temporarily reduce working hours. The violence followed weeks of student demonstrations over teacher shortages and poor school conditions. The movement has since expanded, drawing trade unionists and other demonstrators angry over rising prices and the state of public services. France imposes curfews for minors in Lille, Nice, and Bordeaux Curfews for minors have been introduced in several French cities following a weekend of rioting and looting, with restrictions in some areas set to remain in place until next week. In designated areas of Lille, Douai, Wattignies, and Denain, unaccompanied minors are subject to a curfew from 8pm to 6am for two nights. Nice has introduced a nightly curfew for minors in specified neighbourhoods from 9pm to 6am until 25 October. In Bordeaux, unaccompanied minors are barred from specified areas between 10pm and 7am until 26 October. In Paris, police announced a separate curfew from 11pm on Monday until 6am on Tuesday in designated areas around Place de la République, where rioting took place on Saturday, and Les Halles, a shopping district targeted by looters. Demonstrations were also banned in other designated areas of the capital from 8pm on Monday until 6am on Tuesday. Lyon has imposed a curfew in part of its city centre from 9pm on Monday until 6am on Tuesday. France imposes curfews after riots leave nearly 3,000 shops affected France has imposed localised curfews and protest restrictions after a weekend of rioting left nearly 3,000 shops affected, hundreds of police officers injured, and a historic town hall partially destroyed by fire. The protests, which began last month over poor conditions in schools, have grown into a broader movement against the rising cost of living and deteriorating public services. Prime minister Sébastien Lecornu called for localised curfews to restore order, saying: “I’m absolutely determined to restore public order,” and added that a state of emergency could be imposed “if needed”. President Emmanuel Macron has refused to accept the resignation of interior minister Laurent Nuñez, who acknowledged that police had lost control during the unrest. “You couldn't look shopkeepers in the eye after hundreds of shops had been looted and say we hadn't lost control,” he said. Protest organisers have called for another round of demonstrations on Saturday, raising the prospect of further clashes as the authorities prepare to tighten security. Where have curfews been issued in France? A source in French prime minister Sebastien Lecornu's office said that a curfew for minors had been set between 8pm and 6am for the next two days in Lille, Douai, Wattignies and Denain with the agreement of local mayors. Paris police said they had issued orders barring protests in certain areas of the French capital from 8pm and had issued a curfew around the Place de la Republique and Les Halles from 10pm. Both would remain in effect until 6am on Tuesday morning. In Nice, mayor Eric Ciotti said in a video posted online that he had signed an order installing a curfew for minors in central Nice overnight. Marseille has banned gatherings and demonstrations. Meanwhile, French unions called for a new round of strikes and rallies on 5 November. Milan luxury shops close for fear of new unrest as government prepares to deploy troops Italy’s deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini said that the government will dispatch 500 army troops to "defend Milan" after two days of unrest that saw demonstrators clash with police, loot shops and vandalise property. The deployment is expected to be included in a series of security measures to be approved at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Shops in central Milan closed early on Monday and boarded up their windows, fearing a fresh outbreak of violence in Italy’s financial capital. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments