France tightens security ahead of fresh protests; curfews, public gathering bans imposed

France has tightened security across Paris and other cities after a weekend of protests, riots and looting, imposing nighttime curfews, restricting public gatherings and banning the possession of petrol containers and fireworks in parts of the capital. The measures come ahead of fresh demonstrations planned for Saturday, as authorities prepare for further unrest.

The government has also mobilised elite police units for the coming weekend, while soldiers deployed under Operation Sentinelle will continue protecting sensitive locations, including airports, railway stations and tourist areas. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has promised a “massive” security deployment after the government acknowledged that it had “lost control” during last weekend's violence.

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President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday that authorities would be “uncompromising” towards “agitators from ultra-left fringe groups”, whom he blamed for much of the unrest. However, he has not declared a state of emergency, a move that would allow troops to reinforce police lines.

Curfews and restrictions target hotspots

Partial nighttime curfews were imposed in parts of Paris and several other cities on Monday and Tuesday nights. The restrictions cover areas where clashes took place over the weekend, as well as shopping districts targeted by looters.

Paris authorities have separately prohibited public gatherings along the Champs-Elysees and near major public buildings and railway stations. Police have also banned people from carrying petrol or gas in bottles or cans, as well as possessing fireworks, through Thursday.

The restrictions follow incidents in which youths set fire to shops and public buildings and fired fireworks through tubes at police officers, leaving several injured.

In Marseille, France's second-largest city, unaccompanied minors have been barred from central shopping streets every night through Friday. The restrictions reflect efforts by local authorities to limit further confrontations and damage to commercial areas.

Elite police units to bolster weekend deployment

The security response is expected to intensify ahead of Saturday's demonstrations. Lecornu has pledged a large-scale deployment, while elite police units have been mobilised to help contain potential violence.

The government has stopped short of declaring a state of emergency, which would provide a legal route for deploying troops to reinforce police lines. Military personnel already stationed at sensitive sites under Operation Sentinelle will, however, continue their patrols.

The operation has been in place for more than a decade and covers locations considered vulnerable to security threats, including transport hubs and tourist zones.

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Shops face heavy losses despite government loans

The unrest has also dealt a significant blow to local businesses, with shops damaged and looted during the weekend's violence. The government has announced interest-free loans for 3,000 affected shops to help them recover.

Shop owners have argued that the assistance will not be sufficient to cover the losses. Crowdfunding campaigns have emerged on social media to help businesses rebuild, but the amounts being raised remain in the low hundreds of thousands of euros, compared with an estimated damage bill running into hundreds of millions of euros for the sector.

The destruction has extended beyond shops and public buildings. More than 1,000 of the roughly 40,000 bicycles deployed across Paris for app-based rentals were destroyed, many of them burned after being used in makeshift street barricades, according to an AFP tally based on figures from bicycle operators.

The damage could leave tourists and residents with fewer rental bicycles available across the capital.

Delivery riders seek restrictions in high-risk areas

Food delivery services could also face disruption as workers seek greater protection against the unrest. Union-Independants, a union representing most delivery bicycle riders, has called on Uber Eats, Deliveroo and other platforms to suspend deliveries to areas considered dangerous.

The union has also demanded that riders be allowed to cancel orders in high-risk locations without financial penalties. It has called for a system that would enable delivery workers to identify dangerous areas in real time.

The demands add another layer to the disruption caused by the unrest, which has affected public spaces, retail businesses, transport-related services and workers operating on the streets.

With further demonstrations expected on Saturday, authorities face the immediate challenge of preventing a repeat of the violence while protecting businesses, public infrastructure and people working or travelling in affected areas.

(With inputs from AFP)