Left Hand Amputated, Vision Lost... Curfew Imposed Across France Amid Violent Protests

[Anchor]

Curfews have been imposed across various parts of France where the protests turned most violent. As the French government admitted it has lost control, it is even leaving the door open to declaring a state of emergency.

Reporting from Paris, this is Kwon Yeongin.

[Reporter]

Protesters swarmed the Louvre Museum in Paris.

Scuffling with security guards, they broke through barricades and rushed toward the museum entrance.

Due to the blockade protest, the Louvre Museum was closed all day yesterday (October 19).

[Panindra Alaparty / Tourist: They should have let us know a little earlier. That should have been the first thing. There are many ways to protest. They could protest while allowing tourists to pass through. They shouldn't do it this way.]

Nighttime curfews were imposed around the Place de la République in Paris and surrounding areas, where fierce protests broke out last weekend.

Minors and adults carrying protest-related items such as masks were included in the curfew targets.

Nighttime travel was completely banned in cities such as Lyon, and public gatherings were prohibited in Marseille.

[Oumaima Boureh / Paris Resident: I don't agree with violent protests that smash shops. Such acts rather undermine the authenticity of the protesters. They do not show what we want.]

At least 3,000 shops nationwide have suffered destruction and looting, and the government stated it will track down and sternly punish the looters.

[Sebastien Lecornu / French Prime Minister: A massive investigation begins today. In Paris alone, 200 investigators will be deployed to analyze CCTV footage and photographs.]

The government also asked second-hand trading platforms, Amazon, and Meta to remove items suspected of being looted if they are posted.

The French government admitted that it practically lost control of cities during the protests last weekend, leaving open the possibility of declaring a state of emergency.

However, criticism against the government's incompetence is growing fierce.

Criticism has also poured onto President Emmanuel Macron, who went to a Celine Dion concert on Friday night ahead of the large-scale protests.

In particular, anger is mounting over the excessive suppression of student protests demanding improved educational environments.

In front of a high school last month, police fired a tear gas canister toward the face of a 14-year-old student, fracturing their jaw.

[Victim's Mother: Our child is only 14 years old. 14 years old.]

There were also incidents where a 16-year-old student's left hand was amputated by a flashbang explosion, and another 16-year-old boy lost his sight after being hit in the eye by a rubber bullet.

Along with accumulated grievances over economic hardship and inequality, excessive police crackdowns on teenagers are cited as factors that triggered the violent protests.

With another rally announced for this weekend, major labor unions have decided to launch a general strike on November 5.

(Reported by Kim Si-nae | Video edited by Lee Seung-jin)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.