Key facts
- 70,000 police officers deployed across France for protests.
- 10,000 more officers deployed than the previous weekend.
- Curfews imposed and public demonstrations banned in several cities.
- A banned protest is expected Sunday when Marine Le Pen launches her presidential bid.
- A drive-by shooting in Trappes on Friday is being investigated as a terrorist hate crime.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez has instructed police to be "uncompromising" with potential rioters on Saturday, as France braces for a day of protests amid heightened security. The demonstrations follow a week of clashes and looting, leading the government to impose local curfews and ban public gatherings in several cities, including Lyon and Nice. Over 10,000 people participated in an authorized anti-far-right march in Orléans, where Marine Le Pen's National Rally is holding a conference. Le Pen is set to formally launch her presidential bid on Sunday. The country was also shaken by a drive-by shooting in Trappes on Friday, which prosecutors are investigating as a terrorist hate crime.