Suspect arrested after historic Limoges town hall set alight

A 34-year-old man linked to the far-left movement has been arrested in France after a 19th-century city hall was gutted by fire during mass disorder over the weekend, French media report. The suspect is known to police for acts of violence against public officials and was on a national security watchlist, according to FranceInfo and BFM TV. The ornate building in the central city of Limoges lost its clock tower and parts of its roof when flames engulfed it on Saturday. The arrest comes as authorities brace for further protests planned for this weekend.

Curfews imposed across major cities

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has vowed a “massive” police presence during the next round of demonstrations. Young people in Marseille have been placed under curfew for most of this week, with the measure in place overnight from Tuesday to Friday. Mayor Benoît Payan said the prefect had decided to introduce the curfew “starting this evening and for days to come”. It applies only to minors in commercial areas particularly affected by looting last weekend.

Paris police commissioner ordered an extension of the overnight curfew in the capital, and the Préfecture de Police said it would continue “for as long as it proves necessary”. A curfew for parts of central Lyon has also been renewed. Lecornu said targeted curfews across France on Monday contributed to a quiet night following the disorder.

Government response and political fallout

Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin told BFM Television that 149 people were in detention following the weekend demonstrations. Hundreds of thousands had protested against rising fuel prices, the cost of living, and deteriorating public services including schools. Darmanin had previously asked prosecutors to be “extremely firm” and “ruthless towards those who attacked police officers, gendarmes and firefighters, who looted shops and who attacked public buildings”.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez admitted police had “lost control” in some cities over the weekend. He offered his resignation on Monday, but President Emmanuel Macron rejected it. Lecornu accused far-left groups of an “insurrectionary” plan, drawing a sharp response from Jean-Luc Mélenchon, de facto leader of La France Insoumise, who called on the prime minister to “prove his accusation” or “apologise, shut up, and stop stoking disorder”. Mélenchon later urged his followers to show “restraint” in the face of any “provocation”.

More than 2,500 people have been arrested since the disorder broke out. One demonstrator’s hand was blown off by a police crowd-control grenade, according to AFP, and about 1,000 police officers have been injured. The protests began last month with students demanding better school conditions and escalated into broader unrest, with rioters setting fire to cars and buildings and looting businesses. Organisers have declared a second round of protests on Saturday, and the Yellow Vests movement has announced “Act II” this weekend. The CGT union has called a major day of strikes on 5 November.