PARIS (AP) — French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu says he has instructed prefects to impose “very limited” and “localized” curfews in cities to prevent more rioting and looting, following this weekend’s violence that notably targeted city halls, other public buildings and hundreds of businesses across the country.
Speaking after an emergency meeting with top government officials, Lecornu said “on Saturday, despite scenes of severe violence and extensive property damage, no one was killed, and that is a miracle” as he defended the work of police officers faced with violent groups of people.
Lecornu said details of the areas to be placed under curfew will be provided later Monday.
The instructions come as Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez offered his resignation on Sunday but President Emmanuel Macron asked him to stay to respond to police needs in an emergency situation.
Macron refused Laurent Nuñez’s resignation “given the need for continued command of law enforcement in the current context,” Macron’s office said in a statement Monday.
On Sunday evening, groups of people set fires to trash bins, bicycles and other objects in the streets and looted businesses in Paris, Lyon, Marseille and other cities, a day after major violence erupted Saturday during nationwide protests against rising living costs and poor conditions in schools. At least 2,400 people were arrested across the country.
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