France plans massive police surge for weekend protests

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 20 Oct, 16:14 · Archive

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced a 'massive' security deployment for planned protests this weekend.

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu told parliament on Tuesday that authorities would mobilise a 'massive' security presence for protests planned for the coming Saturday. He acknowledged that last weekend's security operation had been 'too static and not mobile enough'.

Lecornu said 1,000 police and gendarmes were injured nationwide over the weekend, which he described as unacceptable. He called for 'clear, frank and massive support' for security forces. He accused what he termed small ultra-left and extreme-left groups of forging an 'insurrectionary plan' that fuelled violent rioting, citing the occupation of a mayoral office in Limoges as an example.

Lecornu said authorities would not tolerate such groups attempting to march on the Élysée or Matignon, the offices and residences of President Emmanuel Macron and the prime minister. The Paris police prefecture launched an online portal inviting people to upload evidence of criminal unrest from recent days.

How it is being reported

• French PM vows 'massive' police deployment for new demonstrations SaturdayFrench Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said Tuesday authorities would mobilise a "massive" security presence next weekend, with organisers announcing plans for new protests after riots erupted on the sidelines of nationwide demonstrations. "The deployment for next Saturday will be massive," Lecornu said in parliament, acknowledging that the security operation for the protests last weekend had been "too static and not mobile enough." FRANCE 24's Luke Shrago reports from Place de la République in central Paris.France 24 · 20 Oct, 15:54
• France plans 'massive' weekend police surge amid protestsFrench Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu told parliament the government would respond and reinforce police in major cities. He also accused extreme-left groups of trying to hijack what began as protests. DW has more.DW News · 20 Oct, 09:49

In this story: Sebastien Lecornu · Emmanuel Macron · France · Paris · Limoges

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