France on Alert as Protests and Shooting Escalate

France is bracing for major protests on Saturday, deploying 70,000 security forces after last weekend's riots turned violent. Several cities, including Paris and Lyon, have banned protests in certain areas to prevent new clashes. Tensions have escalated following a Friday shooting in Trappes near Paris, where a man opened fire with an automatic weapon at a gas station, health center, and playground. One person was killed and five wounded, including a 12-year-old girl in serious condition. A 39-year-old suspect has been arrested. President Emmanuel Macron called the attack a terrorist act and racially motivated, saying the gunman deliberately targeted victims based on skin color. Terror prosecutors have opened an investigation, and the mayor of Trappes labeled the shooting racist and Islamophobic. The events have intensified a heated political debate, with right-wing politicians blaming immigration for last week's unrest.