France extends curfews ahead of new protests

PARIS -- French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said Tuesday that targeted curfews had helped maintain calm overnight Monday, as authorities extended restrictions in several cities ahead of further protests scheduled for Saturday.

"Targeted curfews contributed to a calm night," Lecornu said on X, adding that new curfews would be imposed on Tuesday evening wherever necessary.

In Paris, the police prefecture announced a curfew in certain neighborhoods from 11 pm Tuesday (2100 GMT) to 6 am Wednesday (0400 GMT), following restrictions imposed overnight on Monday.

In Marseille, a curfew will run from 10 pm Tuesday (2000 GMT) to 5 am Wednesday (0300 GMT). The measure will be enforced nightly through Friday, French television channel BFM TV reported Tuesday, citing local authorities. A similar curfew will also be enforced in Lyon.

Addressing the National Assembly on Tuesday, Lecornu said police deployments for new demonstrations planned for Saturday would be "massive." He acknowledged shortcomings in the security arrangements during the previous weekend's unrest, saying the response had been too static and insufficiently mobile.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said Tuesday that the government would deploy soldiers from the French army's Operation Sentinelle to help prevent violence during the demonstrations announced for Oct 24.