France Deploys Massive Police and Military Forces for Saturday Protests

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu told the National Assembly that authorities would mobilise a "massive" security presence for Saturday protests. The statement followed the announcement of new demonstrations planned for the weekend. The government said the deployment would be mobile and aimed at restoring order. It also noted that 1,000 police and gendarmes were injured over the weekend.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said the Sentinelle military force would support police during the operation. The military would be deployed alongside police to free them for maintaining order. The government pledged to overhaul tactics after criticism that city centres had been left vulnerable. The operation will involve troops and a large security presence.

Curfews were imposed in several cities. In Paris the curfew ran from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the 1st arrondissement. Lyon had a 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, Bordeaux restricted unaccompanied minors from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., Nice from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., and Marseille from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Other cities announced localized restrictions that would take effect on Tuesday night.

The government blamed ultra‑left groups for inciting the weekend riots. Lecornu accused far‑left and ultra‑left fringe groups of forging an "insurrectionary plan" that led to violent rioting. The unrest last weekend involved riots and looting in Paris, Marseille, Lyon and other cities. The government acknowledged failures in its response to the violence.