French PM orders partial curfews after weekend riots as interior minister admits police 'lost control'
Sébastien Lecornu asked prefects to impose localised evening curfews in selected city-centre zones to protect residents and shops. He ruled out a blanket curfew on Paris and said a state of emergency remained possible if needed.
France's prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, said on Monday he had asked regional prefects to impose "local and partial" curfews in some city centres after a weekend of some of the country's worst rioting in years. Speaking after an emergency government meeting, he said the aim was to protect people and businesses, and that there was "no question" of putting all of Paris under curfew — though he named symbolic or transport hubs such as Les Halles and Place de la République as the kind of zones that could be covered. Exact maps were to follow after talks with mayors. Marseille separately banned gatherings from noon to 8 p.m.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez conceded that police had "lost control" in several places and that forces in cities including Paris and Lyon had been overwhelmed after what he called a lack of anticipation. Industry groups say roughly 2,000 businesses were hit by looting. Lecornu said a state of emergency could still be declared if useful, but that partial curfews seemed more appropriate for now, and he promised a large-scale criminal response, with nearly 80% of those arrested so far facing prosecution. Source: The Guardian (with AP, France 24)