France Deploys 70,000 Police As Protests Resume

France has deployed about 70,000 police officers as nationwide protests resume amid fears of renewed violence over the rising cost of living, declining social services and inequality.

Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators are expected to take to the streets across the country, a week after similar protests were marred by violence.

The heightened security measures also follow a deadly shooting near Paris that left one person dead and five others injured.

President Emmanuel Macron described the shooting as “a racist terrorist attack.”

France’s Interior Minister, Laurent Nunez, said police had arrested 135 people and seized various weapons as security personnel prepared for the demonstrations on Saturday.

He said officers had been instructed to prevent a recurrence of street violence, adding that confiscated items included metal balls, lead pellets, fireworks, slingshots, steel balls, improvised weapons, a katana and airsoft weapons.

Nunez, however, said there had been no major incident at the time of his statement.

Earlier, the minister said in a social media post that he had visited personnel of the Paris intervention unit, who were among those mobilised for the security operation in the capital.

“Our forces are mobilized, our setup is in place. We are ready,” Nunez said.

The protests have also heightened security concerns in other European countries, with demonstrations expected in Italy, Spain, Portugal and Albania.

In Italy, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has ordered the deployment of an additional 500 soldiers to Milan, joining hundreds already stationed in the northern city ahead of planned protests.

The soldiers will support about 5,000 police officers and other law enforcement personnel deployed in Milan to prevent a repeat of the looting and violence recorded during demonstrations last week.

Authorities have also intensified security operations, including drone surveillance, checks at railway stations and monitoring of online platforms for potential calls for violence.

In Rome, security has been stepped up around major public spaces and shopping districts, with luxury shopping streets placed under restrictions ahead of planned demonstrations.

Protests have also been called in at least seven other Italian cities, while demonstrations scheduled for Saturday in Albania, Spain and Portugal are expected to focus on longstanding concerns, including shortcomings in education and the lack of affordable housing.

Meanwhile, businesses across France have begun taking precautionary measures to protect their premises from possible vandalism despite the large police presence.

Several luxury shops in Paris have covered their prominent storefronts with protective boards as authorities prepare for the demonstrations.

The security deployment has also raised concerns among some residents about the potential for violence involving both protesters and law enforcement officers.

During recent student protests, several teenagers reportedly sustained serious injuries during police operations, while videos circulating online have purportedly shown incidents of police brutality during last week’s demonstrations. The videos have not been independently confirmed.

French police are among the most heavily armed forces in Europe and face less independent oversight than law enforcement agencies in several other countries.

Human rights organisation Amnesty International has described the police response to the protests as “disproportionate” and called on French authorities to “act upon their human rights obligations.”

Authorities are maintaining heightened security as demonstrations continue, with concerns mounting over the possibility of further clashes and property damage.