During Saturday’s French demonstrations, hundreds of people were arrested and several weapons confiscated.
135 people was arrested on Saturday in connection with the announced demonstrations in France.
This is according to the country’s interior minister, Laurent Nuñez, according to the AFP news agency.
It is also said that several weapons have been confiscated.
The confiscated items include metal balls, lead shot, fireworks and slingshots.
The minister emphasizes, however, that so far there have been no “serious incidents”.
France was hit by the worst riots in the country for several years on Saturday last week.
As a result, partial curfews have been introduced in a number of cities during the week.
Ahead of today’s demonstrations, some mayors have introduced widespread bans, while others have allowed demonstrations that are registered with the authorities.
This applies, for example, in the southern French city of Marseille, where a previous ban on all demonstrations was withdrawn so that a march organized by trade unions can take place.
In central Paris, among others, the large student union UNEF and the protest group De Gule Veste are planning to march. De Gule Veste emerged in 2018 in protest against planned fuel taxes. The group quickly developed into a wider community protest.
On Saturday, the high cost of living and public cuts are being demonstrated against, among other things.
In addition, there is a focus on the city of Orléans south of Paris. The right-wing party National Samling is holding a congress here, and large counter-demonstrations with 20-30,000 participants are expected.
In response to last week’s violent protests, significantly more police officers have also been deployed to prevent a similar development.
70,000 officers have been mobilized across the country compared to 60,000 last week.
– We will be uncompromising towards vandals and looters and all those who commit acts of violence, Laurent Nunez said before the demonstrations.
Drones, helicopters and armored vehicles will also be deployed.
