France braces for more unrest as police tactics and weapons face scrutiny
Authorities deploy reinforcements ahead of Saturday rallies while defending the use of ‘intermediate-force’ weapons
Police across France are under pressure to maintain security during further protests expected in some cities, while facing scrutiny over their riot-control tactics used during previous unrest that left some teenagers seriously injured.
Officers appeared outnumbered and overwhelmed during last weekend’s protests against rising living costs and poor conditions in schools.
In response, France’s Interior Ministry said it would deploy 20 per cent more police this Saturday than last weekend, even as regional authorities imposed blanket bans on demonstrations in several major cities, including Lyon and Marseille, following widespread looting and unrest.
In Paris, police restricted Saturday’s planned march to the eastern fringes of the capital and barred access to the city centre, prompting the precautionary closure of major cultural landmarks, including the Louvre and Musee d’Orsay. Activist groups have warned they would defy the orders.
