France deploys 70,000 police for Saturday protests after riots

France is on high alert for nationwide protests on Saturday, a week after some of the worst unrest in decades, with over 70,000 police officers deployed amid fears of defiance against demonstration restrictions. The interior ministry is ramping up security after the government faced criticism for failing to foresee the scale of the 17 October riots, which saw looting and buildings torched. Hundreds have been jailed, and President Emmanuel Macron has limited Saturday's protests to trade union-organised events, though many cities have imposed blanket bans. The protests have expanded beyond students to include a revived yellow-vest movement, with over 500 demonstrations planned and calls for Macron's resignation. Museums in Paris will close, and a PSG match was moved, as France faces political polarisation ahead of a divisive election period next spring.