Paris police remained on alert Saturday over possible unrest in the French capital, with a police spokesperson warning that “the threat exists” following violent incidents last week.
Speaking to French broadcaster BFMTV, Paris Police Prefecture spokesperson Helene Denechere said authorities were taking the threat seriously and closely assessing the security situation ahead of planned demonstrations.
“The threat exists, it is being taken into consideration. Very serious acts were committed on Saturday, of a scale and violence that was underestimated. Today, it is being assessed,” Denechere said.
Read: French businesses, events to close with more weekend protests expected
She acknowledged that authorities had underestimated the scale of the mobilisation and the severity of the violence during demonstrations on October 17.
Denechere also said police have seized dangerous objects, including fireworks mortars, during security checks across the Ile-de-France region ahead of the protests.
Disagreement over demonstration route
Paris police and trade unions remained at odds over the route of Saturday’s demonstration in the capital.
The police prefecture on Friday banned a previously agreed route between Place de la Bastille and Place de la Nation. Instead, authorities proposed an alternative route between Porte d’Italie and Porte de Vincennes via the Boulevards des Marechaux, according to a police decree.
Read More: France to deploy troops, admits to failures over weekend unrest
The decree authorised the demonstration to take place from 1pm local time (1100GMT) to 7pm.
An inter-union group representing trade unions and youth organisations in the Ile-de-France region rejected the proposed route, calling the demand “unacceptable” in a statement.
24 metro stations closed
Paris public transport operator RATP said 24 metro stations were ordered closed from 9am Saturday at the request of police, citing security concerns.
Demonstrations were also authorised in eight major French cities, including Lille, Strasbourg, Mulhouse, Grenoble, Marseille, Toulouse and Amiens. In Marseille, law enforcement officers were deployed around the city’s Old Port ahead of the demonstration.
Also Read: Mass protests in France spiral into worst riots in years
French students and Yellow Vests protesters planned to hold “Act II” demonstrations following mass protests on October 17 over cost-of-living issues, including high fuel prices.
An estimated 500,000 to 800,000 people participated in demonstrations across France last week, resulting in more than 2,500 arrests as some protests turned violent, with rioting and looting reported.
