U.S. Embassy urges Americans to avoid French cities amid escalating riots and curfews

The United States Embassy in France issued a warning on Monday urging Americans to steer clear of urban areas after riots that erupted on Oct. 17 escalated into violent clashes and prompted authorities to impose partial curfews in several cities, including Paris, Lille and Lyon. Protesters, expressing discontent over rising living costs and mass migration, set vehicles ablaze, filled streets with smoke and forced police to deploy tear gas, especially around Paris’s Place de la République and the Les Halles district.

The unrest led to the temporary closure of the Louvre Museum and vandalism of Lyon’s tourism office at Place Bellecour, while Limoges saw its historic town hall set on fire and Bordeaux reported up to 100 shops looted. Although most flights to and from Paris continue, ground transport may face interruptions, and the embassy advises travelers to verify Metro station status, allow extra travel time and confirm flight schedules directly with airlines. The advisory underscores ongoing security concerns as curfews could be extended to additional neighborhoods.