France Deploys 70,000 Police Ahead of Saturday Protests

France deployed 70,000 police and restricted demonstrations ahead of Saturday’s protests. Several museums and Metro stations will close.

France is deploying about 70,000 police, imposing curfews and restricting demonstrations ahead of nationwide protests Saturday, a week after rioting and looting shook the country.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said about 10,000 more officers will be on duty than last weekend, supported by elite units, mounted police, helicopters, drones, armored vehicles and water cannon. He said the ministry will be extremely vigilant and extremely firm and will let nothing pass. President Emmanuel Macron said protests requested by individuals or groups with no legitimate authority will be banned. Requests from trade unions will be examined by prefects, and alternative routes will be proposed to protect city centers, businesses and public buildings. He canceled a planned trip to Nigeria and Senegal. Police have rejected permit requests from the student union UNEF and the Yellow Vest movement, which have said their rallies will go ahead, Reuters reported. Police have so far approved only a union demonstration in Paris.

Paris police extended a nighttime curfew for adults and minors around Place de la République and Les Halles, running from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. through the weekend. Lyon banned gatherings in central areas and introduced curfews and public transport restrictions. Demonstrations were also banned in central Toulon and parts of Lille. The Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay and the Picasso museum will be closed Saturday, and 24 Metro stations in Paris will shut. The Paris edition of the Art Basel fair ended two days early, and a Ligue 1 match between Toulouse and Troyes was moved from Saturday to Sunday. Paris Saint-Germain’s match with Lyon was moved to Monday, though an NFL game at the Stade de France on Sunday remains scheduled. Authorities urged shops in affected areas to close or hire security.

More than 500,000 people took to the streets last Saturday, and the demonstrations were marred by violence and looting. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said 2,700 people have been taken into police custody since then and 217 jailed. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu told lawmakers the security operation last weekend was too static and not mobile enough, and said Saturday’s deployment would be massive.

Tensions were raised further Friday by a suspected terror attack in Trappes, west of Paris, where a 39-year-old man was arrested after one person was killed and four others, including a 12-year-old girl, were wounded in a shooting. Nuñez said the motive may be racist and that it was clearly a terrorist crime, and the mayor said the dead victim and at least one of the wounded were of African origin, AFP reported. The investigation is ongoing.

Information for this report was provided by Al Jazeera, Anadolu Agency, Fox News, Reuters, The Associated Press and AFP.