France on edge with 70,000 police deployed for unrest as authorities probe suspected terror attack near Paris
France has deployed 70,000 police officers across the country as authorities investigate a suspected terrorist attack near Paris while preparing for potential weekend protests.
The deployment comes after a suspected terrorist attack in Trappes, west of Paris, where a 39-year-old man was arrested following a shooting that killed one person and wounded four others, including a 12-year-old girl. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez has described the incident as a 'clearly a terrorist crime' with a possible racist motive.
Protest Ban
President Emmanuel Macron has canceled his planned trip to Nigeria and Senegal to focus on security, announcing a ban on protests requested by 'individuals or groups with no legitimate authority.' The government will only allow demonstrations submitted by trade unions, with proposed alternative routes to protect city centers and public buildings.
The strategy adopted for the coming days is to ban protests requested by individuals or groups with no legitimate authority.
Violence Escalation
Macron blamed 'ultra-left groups whose aim is to bring down the Republic' for last Saturday's unrest, which police admitted they had 'lost control' of. The Alliance Police Nationale union criticized political figures for 'excusing the inexcusable' and accused the state of abandoning officers in the face of increasing violence.
Despite police rejecting permit requests, the Union Nationale des Étudiants de France (UNEF) and the Yellow Vest movement plan to proceed with their rallies. Only a union demonstration in Paris has been approved so far, with authorities preparing armored vehicles and water cannons for potential clashes.
Security Response
Interior Minister Nuñez assured that his ministry is 'ready for tomorrow' and will be 'extremely vigilant, extremely firm' in responding to any unrest. The U.S. State Department has reportedly warned that France could face 'even worse destruction' with a second weekend of planned riots.
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