France protests: 70,000 police deployed as riots hit Paris and other cities

France deployed up to 70,000 police officers nationwide on Saturday, including armed units, helicopters, and armored vehicles in Paris, as protests and riots erupted across the country, prompting museum closures and shopkeeper barricades. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez reported 135 arrests and the seizure of weapons, while thousands gathered for an anti-far-right protest in Orléans. Some rallies in Lyon, Nice, and Montpellier were banned, with police using tear gas in Lyon, and protest routes in Paris were moved away from central areas. Left-wing candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon urged President Emmanuel Macron to "give in," and the Yellow Vest movement called for new demonstrations on October 31. Last weekend's violence damaged or looted around 3,000 shops across France.