Paris is preparing a “massive” security crackdown after nationwide unrest left hundreds of businesses looted and buildings set on fire last weekend
France will deploy military personnel from its counterterrorism force to support police during a new wave of nationwide protests, as the government prepares a “massive” security operation following some of the worst riots in years.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced the move on Tuesday, confirming that soldiers from Operation Sentinelle, established to protect France against terrorist attacks, would be mobilized ahead of demonstrations scheduled for Saturday.
The troops will primarily take over guarding sensitive locations, freeing police and gendarmes to confront rioters and prevent a repeat of last weekend’s widespread violence and looting. According to French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche, 1,000 military personnel will be available in Paris on October 24, including 500 on patrol, compared with the usual 300.
Operation Sentinelle was launched following the deadly Charlie Hebdo terrorist attacks in January 2015. The military mission involves up to 10,000 soldiers assigned to protecting sensitive sites across France, including railway stations, airports, religious buildings and tourist attractions.
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