French premier announces ‘massive’ security deployment for protests this weekend

The French government on Tuesday announced a large deployment of security forces for nationwide protests planned for Saturday.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu told the National Assembly that there would be "massive" security deployment for the "second phase" of the mobilization.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez also echoed Lecornu, underlining that they would "step up the deployment” both in terms of “resources” and “responsiveness," according to broadcaster BFMTV.

The government also announced that overnight curfews in force in several cities would be extended for a second night "where the situation requires it," following violent demonstrations over the weekend against the high cost of living.

The Paris police prefecture also issued several orders banning the transport of fuel and flammable gas in individual containers through Thursday, to prevent unrest and violence on the sidelines of the mobilizations.

The measures apply across the Paris metropolitan area and also include bans on carrying protective equipment within 100 meters of high schools and higher education institutions, as well as on the purchase and possession of pyrotechnic devices.

Around 550,000 people took part in 110 demonstrations across France on Saturday, including 110,000 in Paris, while about 400 arrests were recorded nationwide.