France deploys 70,000 police officers amid protests
Photo: France deploys 70,000 law enforcement officers on the streets (Getty Images)
French authorities are preparing for mass protests on Saturday, October 24. Some 70,000 law enforcement officers will be deployed on the streets, and cultural institutions will be closed, the Associated Press reports.
Protests in France
Protests last week escalated into mass unrest, with people storming government buildings, smashing shop windows, looting stores, and clashing with police.
On Saturday, demonstrators plan to take to the streets again to protest against the high cost of living.
Students, members of the CGT trade union, and activists from the Yellow Vests movement are expected to join the rallies.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said the authorities would deploy:
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Around 70,000 police officers and gendarmes
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Helicopters
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Armored vehicles
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Water cannons
In addition, elite police units will help secure public buildings, such as city halls, as part of a "highly mobile" security operation, he added.
"There have been numerous calls from radical far-left groups on social media to commit acts of violence and vandalism. There have also been renewed calls for looting, with those messages clearly being spread by rioters," Nuñez said.
He warned that police would take a firm approach to arrests and that there would be legal consequences.
Museums to close
In a statement to the AP, the French Ministry of Culture said that the Louvre, the Orsay and Picasso museums, and the Grand Palais would be closed.
The ministry urged all institutions to take the necessary measures to ensure "visitor safety, staff protection and the preservation of artworks."
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that France plans to ban "illegitimate" protests soon. Instead, trade unions will be offered alternative routes for marches to protect businesses.
In addition, on October 19, French authorities imposed a partial curfew in Paris, Marseille, Nice, and several other cities following riots amid the protests.
