France deploys 70,000 police as nationwide protests resume
publishers 53articles 72first reported 17 Oct, 19:59 UTCdeveloping since 18 Oct · 15 editions
Nationwide protests began in France on Saturday under heavy security, with authorities deploying about 70,000 police officers to prevent a repeat of the violence and looting seen a week earlier. RFI reported that the demonstrations were largely peaceful as they got under way.
Students, trade unions, the revived Yellow Vest movement and other anti-government groups called demonstrations over the rising cost of living, strained public services, inequality and conditions in schools. Hundreds of thousands of people were expected to participate across the country.
President Emmanuel Macron had said only demonstrations organised by recognised trade unions would be permitted. Several cities imposed broader restrictions, including bans on gatherings, curfews and limits on public transport. Marseille reversed an earlier blanket ban to allow a union-organised march, while a Paris march was ordered away from the city centre. Student union UNEF and Yellow Vest organisers objected to the restrictions and said their mobilisation would continue.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said authorities would act firmly against rioters, looters and others committing violence. The deployment included 10,000 more officers than the previous weekend, supported by elite units, mounted police, helicopters, drones, armoured vehicles and water cannon.
More than half a million people demonstrated the previous Saturday before some gatherings descended into vandalism and looting. France’s Justice Ministry said 2,700 people had since been arrested. Museums and some businesses closed or took protective measures ahead of the renewed protests.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 5 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 162 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 53
- Source articles
- 72
- Given to the writer
- 8, 5 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 162 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
Written by a language model from the sources above, then checked by a second model that may only cut, attribute or correct. How it works →