This is how France and Italy react to the riots

Curfews, anti-terror soldiers, new decrees: France and Italy have reacted to the riots at the weekend. This is intended to prevent unrest in the future.

Soldiers, curfews, decrees This is how France and Italy react to the riots As of: October 20, 2026 • 9:56 p.m

Curfews, anti-terror soldiers, new decrees: France and Italy have reacted to the riots at the weekend. This is intended to prevent unrest in the future.

In France and Italy, protests over the weekend, including against the high cost of living, were overshadowed by serious riots and looting. That also sparked debate about whether security forces could have been better prepared.

Both countries now responded with strict measures to control the situation. Protests have been announced again in France for the coming weekend.

There are expected to be renewed protests in France on Saturday. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced a large contingent of security forces. The police operation will be “massive,” he said. Lecornu did not mention the number of uses.

Soldiers from the anti-terror unit Sentinelle, who have been patrolling French cities since the IS terrorist attacks in Paris and the northern suburb of Saint-Denis, were also supposed to guard sensitive locations. In this way, more police and gendarmes could be deployed to control the demonstrations, said Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez.

In the French Parliament, MPs also agreed to set up a commission of inquiry. It should investigate the question of how the unrest and riots came about last weekend. It should also examine the measures taken to maintain public order.

French government wants to prevent new riots after nationwide protests tagesschau24, October 20, 2026 • 11:00 a.m. According to research by the newspaper Le Monde, there were too few security forces on duty, which led to some neighborhoods remaining unprotected and weapons being used more frequently. According to Le Monde, the police fired a total of more than 19,000 tear gas and stun grenades in the four major cities of Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Bordeaux.

Nighttime curfews in Paris and several other cities have also been extended. In Paris, the restrictions will apply from 11 p.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday around Place de la République and the Les Halles shopping district, police said. Similar measures were imposed in other major cities. There is a curfew in the center of Lyon until Wednesday morning, and in Marseille a ban on minors going out at night has been imposed in certain districts up to and including Friday.

In Paris, unregistered gatherings were also banned in certain parts of the city from Tuesday evening to Wednesday morning. According to police, rallies are prohibited on the Champs-Elysées, in front of Paris train stations, in several central squares and around the presidential palace, the seat of government, the parliament and the interior ministry. Several metro stations will remain closed from 10 p.m.

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There were also violent riots on the sidelines of protests in France's neighboring country Italy over the weekend. After the riots, the government is now sending 500 more soldiers to Milan - initially for three months. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had a corresponding decree passed after an emergency meeting of her cabinet. The soldiers are supposed to prevent renewed riots in Milan's city center.

The government is trying to "smooth the waves" - ARD correspondent on protests in Italy tagesschau24, October 20, 2026 • 11:00 a.m. The military mission "Strade sicure" ("Safe Streets") has been running in Italy since 2008, in which soldiers support the regular police forces in monitoring urban centers and endangered properties. This is now being increased in Milan. In addition, suspected rioters should be allowed to be held longer by the police in the future. For offenses committed by five or more people, the penalties should be increased - up to five years in prison and fines of up to 15,000 euros.

Curfews in certain areas of the city center are also being discussed. Meloni had announced tough action after the riots in Milan, but also in various other cities.