France deploys 70,000 police to manage widespread unrest and protests
Mobsters or looters will appear, and we are waiting for them,
said Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, as France deployed 70,000 police officers and security personnel to manage widespread unrest. High inflation and poor educational conditions sparked fresh demonstrations across Paris and other major French cities, marking the fourth weekend of protests driven by student groups and labor unions, ytn.co.kr reported.
Weekend Marches Across Major French Cities
Demonstrations unfolded peacefully across Paris, Marseille, Lille, Lyon, and Nice. Student organizations and trade unions launched a march in the capital stretching from Republic Square to Nation Square. Protesting teachers and student bodies issued a joint statement announcing plans for a renewed general strike the following Tuesday. Meanwhile, unpermitted demonstrations led by the Yellow Vest movement gathered smaller crowds near the Place de la Concorde, where demonstrators confronted police.
Authorities shut down multiple underground metro stations across central Paris while increasing security checks and identity verifications throughout the transit network. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed that 70,000 law enforcement officers were deployed nationwide to contain potential civil unrest and property damage.
Clashes and Mass Arrests During Thursday General Strike
The weekend rallies followed a massive nationwide general strike two days earlier on Thursday, which drew hundreds of thousands of participants into the streets. While the majority of those demonstrations remained orderly, radical groups ignited fires and refused orders to disperse. Those confrontations led to clashes with security forces that left roughly 60 people injured.
The French Ministry of the Interior reported that Thursday’s actions resulted in 642 arrests.