France to deploy 70,000 police nationwide to prevent unrest after riots

France will deploy about 70,000 police nationwide on Saturday to prevent civil unrest following last weekend's severe street violence that erupted alongside cost-of-living protests, with elite counter-terrorism units included in the operation. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said the security forces will be "extremely firm" against rioters, citing social media calls for violence from "ultra-left" groups, and the operation will include water cannon, armoured vehicles, helicopters and drones, following riots that saw looting in Paris, Marseille and Lyon and a town hall fire in Limoges. The government has admitted losing control of Saturday's protests, and demonstrations are expected in several other European countries this weekend over similar grievances, while some French cities have banned rallies and the Louvre museum will close, with union leaders criticising the restrictions as an abuse of authority.