France tightens security for Saturday protests with bans and route changes

France faces a new day of protests on Saturday with a large police deployment, restrictions on gatherings in several cities, and preventive measures to avoid further violence following incidents last weekend. The Interior Ministry reported seizing potentially dangerous objects, including mortars and petanque balls, during checks at protest access points. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu convened an interministerial crisis unit, while Interior Minister Laurent Núñez warned that "disparate groups will likely try to provoke incidents" and pledged support for officers. Early tensions emerged in Lyon, where police used tear gas to disperse groups, amid restrictions after over 150 establishments were damaged and the tourism office burned last Saturday. In Paris, the route of demonstrations has changed, with La France Insoumise accepting the Prefecture's itinerary after a legal appeal failed. Authorities have banned a proposed route by student groups and yellow vests, while municipalities have removed trash bins, glass containers, and other objects that could be used as projectiles. The measures accompany the deployment of 70,000 officers announced for the weekend, with authorities vowing to be "inflexible" with vandals.