Skip next section What you need to know
What you need to know
- France announces curfews for parts of Paris, northern cities and Nice after unrest
- French cities experienced rioting and looting over the weekend amid anti-government protests.
- Italy’s Meloni considering curfew after riot in Milan
- Albania’s PM says ‘red line’ must be drawn’ after anti-government demos and clashes
Follow below for the latest on the protests and unrest in France and other parts of Europe on Monday, October 19:
Skip next section Italy’s Meloni considers curfew after Milan riot10/19/2026October 19, 2026
Italy’s Meloni considers curfew after Milan riot
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was also considering imposing curfews and other measures on Monday night in response to rioting in several Italian cities over the weekend.
Meloni convened an emergency Cabinet meeting to discuss her government’s response, with local media reporting that emergency decrees could be passed as early as Tuesday.
Italy‘s ANSA news agency reported that the government intends to “respond decisively” after days of peaceful protests against the high cost of living descended into riots and looting in cities including Milan, Turin and Bologna.
On Milan’s central cathedral square, young people dressed in black and wearing masks smashed shop windows and looted supermarkets. At least 14 security personnel were injured, according to official figures, with Milanese prosecutors speaking of “rare violence.”
In total, more than 270 people were detained, most of them minors.
Many luxury stores in central Milan remained closed on Monday as Italian media drew comparisons with events in France.
Hard-right Prime Minister Meloni has governed in Rome for four years at the head of a coalition of right-wing and conservative parties. Parliamentary elections are due to be held next year.
https://p.dw.com/p/5ORU4Skip next section Welcome to our coveragePublished 10/19/2026Published October 19, 2026last updated 10/19/2026last updated October 19, 2026
Welcome to our coverage
Welcome to DW’s coverage of the continuing civil unrest and protests in France and other European countries.
Curfews were declared in several French cities on Monday evening, including in parts of Paris, as authorities looked to prevent a continuation of protests, rioting and looting.
Stay tuned for more in this blog.
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https://p.dw.com/p/5ORTySkip next section France: Curfews imposed in parts of Paris, Lille, Nice10/19/2026October 19, 2026
France: Curfews imposed in parts of Paris, Lille, Nice
French authorities imposed curfews in parts of several cities on Monday night in response to criticism over security failings after cost-of-living and anti-government protests descended into rioting and looting over the weekend.
In the capital, Paris, police issued a curfew around the Place de la Republique and Les Halles from 11 p.m. until 6 a.m. local time (9:00 p.m. to 04:00 UTC) on Tuesday morning, while protests were banned in certain other areas from 8 p.m.
“A police deployment is in place to ensure strict compliance with these measures,” read a police statement.
On France’s south coast, the mayor of Nice signed an order installing a curfew for minors in the city center overnight while nearby Marseille also banned gatherings and demonstrations.
Sources in Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu’s office told the Reuters news agency that curfews had also been set for minors between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. over the next two days in the northern city of Lille and the nearby towns of Douai, Wattignies and Denain with the agreement of local mayors.
“My determination to restore order is absolute,” Lecornu told reporters, ruling out blanket curfews in Paris but not a potential state of emergency.
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