France Enforces Curfews Amid Rising Violence in Major Cities

Paris, October 20 (Daily Kiran) : The French government has taken decisive action to quell ongoing violence in several cities by imposing curfews. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu expressed gratitude to law enforcement and security personnel for their efforts in restoring peace.

In a post on the social media platform X, Lecornu noted that the curfews in targeted areas contributed to a significantly calmer night. He thanked police officers and security forces for effectively enforcing the curfews and acknowledged the administrative officials who actively fulfilled their responsibilities.

The Prime Minister indicated that new curfews would be implemented tonight in areas deemed necessary. Decisions will be made at the local level, with officials and mayors assessing the situation on the ground before determining the appropriate measures.

Following incidents of looting during protests over the weekend, Lecornu had previously issued partial curfew orders for certain areas starting Monday evening. He also mentioned the potential for declaring a state of emergency if required.

On Saturday, approximately 550,000 people participated in demonstrations across France. According to figures released by the French Ministry of the Interior on Sunday, 2,397 individuals were arrested during the protests, which were marred by violence. A total of 997 police officers were injured, seven of whom sustained serious injuries.

Reports indicate that since September, there have been numerous large-scale protests by students demanding improved educational facilities and better study conditions. This unrest comes at a time when public dissatisfaction is growing over rising inflation, fuel prices, and the state of education and public services in France.