France Limits Protests in Major Cities to Prevent Violence

French authorities are imposing restrictions on protests in major cities and increasing security personnel ahead of large-scale demonstrations. This measure aims to prevent a recurrence of the arson and looting that occurred during protests on October 17.

According to Yonhap News, on October 22, AP and French RFI reported that protests scheduled in Paris, Lyon, Lille, and Grenoble have been banned.

Paris police have prohibited gatherings around key sites, including the Élysée Palace, the National Assembly, the Louvre Museum, and the Champs-Élysées, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. A police source indicated that this decision was made because the organizers were deemed unable to prevent violence and property damage.

In Lyon, authorities also denied a student group's march due to concerns over public order. All protests in the city will be banned on October 24, when a nationwide demonstration is anticipated.

During the October 17 protests in Lyon, damage occurred, including a fire at a tourist office building. Lyon Mayor Grégory Doucet reported that between 150 and 200 shops were looted, and police arrested approximately 200 individuals.

As student groups plan protests on October 24, the 'Yellow Vest' movement is also expected to march in Paris. The French government plans to deploy 20% more security personnel than the 60,000 deployed during the previous protests.