France will deploy about 70,000 police officers and gendarmes nationwide on Saturday as authorities prepare for fresh protests following violent demonstrations and looting last weekend.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced the deployment on Friday, saying the security operation would include specialised police units, helicopters, drones, armoured vehicles and water cannons.
The deployment is 10,000 personnel higher than the previous weekend’s operation, as the government seeks to prevent a repeat of the violence that affected Paris, Marseille, Lyon and other cities.
The protests were initially driven by anger over the rising cost of living, strained public services and conditions in schools. However, demonstrations last Saturday escalated into looting, vandalism, fires and clashes with police.
Authorities have restricted or banned demonstrations in several cities, while some major cultural institutions in Paris, including the Louvre, are due to close on Saturday as a precaution.
Nuñez warned that security forces would respond firmly to violence and attempts to loot businesses or attack public buildings.
The heightened security comes as the government faces criticism over its handling of last weekend’s unrest and concerns about further clashes during demonstrations planned across the country.
