Suspect arrested after historic town hall set alight – French media

ByJacob Phillips and Angus Thompson. 20 October 2026, 07: 35 BST.

Key points

• French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin informed BFM Television that 149 residents were in detention after widespread demonstrations over the weekend.
• More than 2, 000 shops and other businesses have been directly impacted by the weekend's violence, the head of France's Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CCI) remarked.
• This person were responsible for France's longest-ever modern protests in 2018, has remarked "Act II" will take place this weekend.
• Curfews were introduced throughout parts of central Paris, including Place de la République, where protesters had gathered over the weekend, and the Les Halles shopping area.
• More than 2, 500 individuals have been arrested since the disorder broke out, office-holders noted on Monday.

For context, a suspect linked to a far-left movement has been arrested in France after a 19th Century city hall was gutted by a fire over the weekend that broke out during mass disorder, French media report.

Meanwhile, the clock tower and parts of the roof of the ornate city hall in the central city of Limoges were engulfed in flames before collapsing on Saturday.

Notably, the 34-year-old suspect is known to police for acts of violence against public authorities and is on a French national security watchlist, FranceInfo and BFM TV report.

While young individuals in Marseille will be subject to curfews for most of this week, french Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has vowed a "massive" police presence during further protests planned for Saturday.

Meanwhile, the city's mayor Benoît Payan remarked on X that the prefect had decided to introduce the curfew "starting this evening and for days to come", with French media reporting it would be in place overnight from Tuesday to Friday.

Payan remarked the measures apply to minors and will only be in commercial areas of the city. It were particularly affected by looting which took place last weekend.

Paris's police commissioner has additionally ordered the extension of an overnight curfew in the capital. The Préfecture de Police remarked the measure would continue "for as long as it proves necessary".

For context, a curfew for parts of central Lyon, in France's south-east, has additionally been renewed.

Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets to protest against rising fuel rates, the cost of living and deteriorating public services, including schools.

Darmanin previously remarked he 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".

Lecornu informed French parliament on Tuesday afternoon numerous police would meet demonstrators at a planned protest on Saturday.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez previously admitted police had "lost control" in some cities over the weekend.

He was strongly criticised by opposition politicians over authorities' preparedness for the disorder, leading him to offer his resignation on Monday. It was rejected by President Emmanuel Macron.

Lecornu additionally accused far-left groups of an "insurrectionary" plan over the weekend's mass chaos.

Responding to an earlier, similar accusation from Lecornu, left-wing La France Insoumise (LFI) de facto leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon had pressed the prime minister to "prove his accusation" or "apologise, shut up, and stop stoking disorder".

On Tuesday, Mélenchon pressed followers on social media to show "restraint" in the face of any "provocation".

Lecornu earlier remarked targeted curfews introduced throughout France on Monday contributed to a quiet night after the disorder.

As well as Lille and other towns in the north, other measures restricting the movement of young individuals and gatherings were introduced on Monday in cities such as Marseille, Bordeaux, Nice and Lyon in the south.

In practice, a crowd assembled in Lyon on Monday night in backing of businesses affected by the disorder but dispersed without violating the curfew, office-holders noted.

For context, the Rhône prefecture remarked on social media that it was "furious" that a far-right group tried to hijack the gathering. The prefecture remarked on X it noted the group to the public prosecutor for alleged Islamophobic and xenophobic remarks.

Lecornu thanked police officers and gendarmes for enforcing the measures, adding that further curfews on Tuesday night would be decided depending on where they were necessary.

Writing in a post on X, he remarked decisions would be produced "on the ground" by French regions and local mayors.

More than 2, 500 individuals have been arrested since the disorder broke out, office-holders noted on Monday. One demonstrator's hand was blown off by a police crowd-control grenade, according to the AFP news agency. Regarding 1, 000 police officers were injured.

Protests first began last month with students demanding better school conditions but they have escalated to take in a broader range of reservations with numbers at demonstrations bolstered by trade unions and various protest groups.

Rioters, some dressed in black and wearing masks and balaclavas, were seen setting fire to cars and buildings and looting businesses in Paris, Marseille and other cities and smaller towns.

Protest organisers earlier declared that a second round of protests will take place on Saturday throughout France.

In practice, the so-called yellow vests (gilets jaunes). This person were responsible for France's longest-ever modern protests in 2018, has remarked "Act II" will take place this weekend.

Meanwhile, French union La CGT has pressed a major day of strikes on 5 November.

Taken together, the developments around suspect arrested after historic town hall set alight point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.