France deploys 70,000 police for demonstrations
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on TimesLIVE
France will deploy 70,000 police officers and specialised units to oversee demonstrations planned for Saturday, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced. The mobilisation aims to prevent further riots after the previous weekend’s violence, looting and fires, according to the minister, as quoted by Reuters.
France will deploy 70,000 police officers on Saturday to oversee demonstrations, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced on Friday. The operation, reinforced by 10,000 officers compared with the previous weekend, aims to prevent further unrest, according to the minister.
Specialised Raid and GIGN units, mounted police, helicopters, drones and anti-drone systems will also be mobilised. Armoured vehicles and water cannon will be available, while curfews introduced in certain sensitive areas this week will remain in place, Laurent Nuñez said.
The authorities have authorised only one trade union demonstration in Paris. They rejected requests from Unef, France’s main student union, and the Yellow Vest movement. Marseille and Lyon have also banned gatherings. Unef nevertheless announced that its demonstrations would go ahead despite the bans.
The minister accused far-left groups of encouraging online attacks on public buildings and promised a firm response to violence and looting. After about 3,000 shops were ransacked the previous weekend, trade organisations called on shops to remain closed on Saturday. The Louvre and several Paris cultural institutions will also be closed, and the Art Basel fair will not take place over the weekend.
The operation follows several days of reinforced security measures announced by the government on 21 October, followed by the restriction on demonstrations decided by Emmanuel Macron on 22 October.
