France imposes curfews after protests leave destruction in Paris and other cities

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has granted mayors the authority to impose partial curfews in certain areas of the country. The night passed calmly, but the scale of destruction has shocked French citizens accustomed to street protests. Curfews were introduced in parts of central Paris, including the Place de la République and the Les Halles shopping district, with similar restrictions in Marseille, Bordeaux, Nice, Lyon, Lille, and other cities. Over 2,500 people have been detained and about 1,000 police officers injured since the unrest began. Lecornu thanked police forces and said additional curfews would be considered for Tuesday evening. The protests began in late September over student demands for better study conditions, then expanded to include unions and other groups. While most demonstrators protested peacefully over fuel prices and living costs, masked rioters set fire to cars, shops, and buildings, damaging landmarks including the Place de la République statue, Marseille's city hall, and Limoges' 143-year-old town hall. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez admitted police "lost control" in some cities and offered his resignation, which President Emmanuel Macron rejected.