‘Weekend of reckoning’ in France as over 70,000 police officers deployed to combat mass protests

A major policing operation is underway across France in response to mass protests authorities fear could turn violent. In what has been dubbed a ‘weekend of reckoning’, hundreds of thousands of people are expected to hit the streets to compound an already turbulent period for the country. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez has urged police to be “hyper-reactive” against troublemakers and looters. Anger over living costs and strained public services has prompted widespread fury amongst students, workers and unions, but authorities say much of the chaos has been caused by radical militants and young looters. Mr Nunez told police in Paris they would have to protect shops, public institutions and security forces. “We have to be ultra, ultra responsive”, he said. “We have significant calls for disruption from political groups and quite simply from criminals. “It is going to be a long day.” Shopkeepers have boarded up storefronts in Paris, while luxury retailers have beefed up their security operation. Around 70,000 police officers and gendarmes have been deployed nationwide, 10,000 more than during last weekend's demonstrations. The Louvre, Musée d'Orsay and several other major cultural attractions have closed, while 24 metro stations in Paris have been shut as part of efforts to limit disruption. Authorities have also imposed curfews in parts of the capital and other cities, with some demonstrations banned outright. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS Police fired tear gas at around 150 demonstrators in Lyon after they attempted to block a road in an area where protests had been prohibited. The main Paris march has been diverted away from the city centre, with organisers forced to abandon the planned route between Bastille and Nation following a police order. The crackdown follows last weekend's unrest, when hundreds of shops were vandalised or looted in Paris, Marseille and Bordeaux. The demonstrations began with student protests over school conditions before spreading into a broader movement against the cost of living and cuts to public services. Tensions have also risen in Orléans, where thousands of demonstrators gathered to oppose the far-right National Rally party as it holds its annual congress. Authorities are determined to prevent a repeat of the violence, with Mr Nunez warning that officers must respond swiftly to any trouble. The scale of the security operation reflects growing concern that France's deepening social discontent could trigger further unrest. Follow related topics: