Paris is extending the partial restrictions of moving to parts of the city by Monday, while Marseilles and Lyons have imposed a complete ban on protests this weekend.
Musées of Louvre, Orsay and Picasso in the French capital will also be closed on Saturday, when more demonstrations are expected.
France is still facing the consequences of major riots last weekend, when anti-high cost protests and school conditions were overshadowed by violence and looting, during which businesses and historic buildings were destroyed.
In other parts of the country where protests have not been fully banned, only demonstrations authorised by unions will be allowed Saturday, President Emmanuel Macron said.
Interior Minister Jean-Didier Berger said the number of officers engaged would increase by 20 per cent compared to last weekend, as the government was criticised for failing to predict the extent of the riots.
France’s Justice Minister said on Thursday that 217 people have been imprisoned following the sentence in accelerated judgments for last weekend’s riots. This number is expected to rise.
Gérad Darmanin said 2,700 people have been arrested throughout France, while more than 1,000 have appeared in court.
According to the newspaper Le Figaro, half of the detained persons had no criminal precedents.
Police in Paris announced that the restrictions of moving to Place de la République Square, where protesters gathered last weekend, as well as in the business area of Les Halles, will continue until Monday.
The movement in both areas will be banned from 11: 00 p.m. to 6: 00 p.m. next morning, local time. Police said the move was ordered by Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez and Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu.
In Marseille, public transportation will cease on Saturday, in an effort to prevent the repetition of riots.
The town experienced some of the worst violent episodes last weekend, while more than 500 businesses were damaged.
The Rhão region’s Prefecture announced that the restriction of movement, which so far applied to minors, would extend to the entire population on Saturday night, October 24th, from 11: 00 p.m. to 5: 00 a.m.
Similar measures have been announced in Nice, in the south of the country, in Toulon, on the southern coast, in the center of Rouen, in the northwest, as well as in Grenoble, in the east.
Macron met with intelligence services and ministers Thursday to prepare for the upcoming day of nationwide protests on Saturday.
The general recommendation is no demonstrations. For those who want to continue the protests and who represent union organisations, the presidents will propose alternative routes, the French president said, Report BBC.
Source Layer: RTKLive
