France Deploys 70,000 Police Amid Unrest, Suspected Terror Attack
President Macron bans protests as authorities investigate a fatal incident near Paris.
France is bracing for further unrest with 70,000 law enforcement officers deployed across the nation in an effort to quell potential violence this weekend. President Emmanuel Macron has announced a ban on demonstrations, citing the need to restore order following recent protests that saw significant clashes, fires, and property damage.
The heightened security measures come as authorities are investigating a suspected terrorist attack in Trappes, west of Paris. In the incident, a 39-year-old man was arrested after one person was killed and four others, including a child, were injured. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez stated that the motive may be racist and that the investigation is treating the event as a terrorist crime.
President Macron canceled upcoming trips to Nigeria and Senegal in response to the domestic situation. He has attributed recent unrest to "ultra-left groups whose aim is to bring down the Republic," indicating a crackdown on what he described as "political and seditious acts." The government's strategy, according to Macron, involves prohibiting protests organized by groups without legitimate authority and proposing alternative routes for any demonstrations that are permitted under law.
Despite the ban, some groups, including the student union UNEF and the "Yellow Vest" movement, have indicated their intention to proceed with planned rallies, though authorities have denied permit requests for many. The government has stated that it will be "extremely vigilant, extremely firm, and will let absolutely nothing pass."
The unrest has led to the closure of major cultural institutions, including the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay, as well as 24 Metro stations in Paris. A Ligue 1 soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Lyonnais has been postponed. An NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New Orleans Saints is still scheduled to take place at Stade de France, though some associated events have been canceled. The stadium was the site of terrorist attacks in 2015.