Local French media report that Paris city hall and the national government have jointly decided to impose a night curfew on major boulevards, streets and sites across the capital, following days of looting and arson that have swept through France's largest cities.
According to the reports, the curfew will cover central locations including Place de la République, major commercial boulevards and the Île de la Cité district, with a possible extension to the area surrounding the Élysée Palace and other government facilities.
The decision comes after days of stubborn refusal by the government to take any concrete action to halt the unrest that has left Paris, Marseille, Lyon and other cities engulfed in flames. Just two days ago, the French interior minister refused to declare a state of emergency; he submitted his resignation to President Macron today, but Macron rejected it and ordered him to remain in his post.
It remains unclear what effect the night curfew will have, and whether it means Paris police will deploy in greater force and use more aggressive tactics than before. The protests are now spreading to other European countries, including Italy.
