French police have arrested 135 people and confiscated various weapons as thousands of people took to the streets across the country on Saturday to protest rising living costs, amid heightened security following violence and looting during demonstrations the previous weekend.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced the arrests, listing seized items that included fireworks, slingshots, lead pellets, improvised weapons, a katana and airsoft guns. He said there had been no major incident at the time of his update.

Authorities deployed security personnel across major cities to prevent a repeat of last weekend’s unrest, while restrictions on demonstrations and concerns about public safety shaped activities in several locations.

In Paris, police redirected an authorised march away from the central Bastille area to Porte d’Italie, where demonstrators were instructed to assemble. Officers maintained a heavy presence around the capital as several businesses protected their premises with wooden boards or removed goods from display.

Some shopkeepers said they were uncertain about the possible impact of the protests. In Bordeaux, a shop manager told AFP that securing five storefronts with protective boards cost nearly €5,000, highlighting the financial burden businesses face when demonstrations raise fears of vandalism.
Residents expressed mixed feelings about the demonstrations, with some supporting the right to protest while condemning vandalism and theft. In Marseille, a young woman identified as Aliyah said economic hardship was a major source of public frustration and argued that restrictions on demonstrations could strengthen people’s determination to participate.

In Lyon, police fired tear gas at about 150 demonstrators who had gathered near a university building and the city’s police station. Officers intervened after the group attempted to block a road in an area where demonstrations were prohibited. Armored vehicles, police vans and a helicopter were also deployed as authorities sought to control the situation.

Other cities experienced different forms of protest activity. In Orléans, thousands marched against the National Rally party led by Marine Le Pen, chanting slogans critical of both Le Pen and President Emmanuel Macron. Meanwhile, authorities imposed restrictions in Grenoble, while shop employees in Rennes voiced concerns about the possibility of renewed violence despite a ban on demonstrations.

The protests reflect wider public dissatisfaction with the rising cost of living, alongside other concerns. Demonstrators have also criticised restrictions on public gatherings, while some participants have stressed that violence and looting undermine the causes they are supporting.

The latest demonstrations followed unrest the previous weekend, when rioting and looting affected businesses and public facilities. French authorities increased security measures in response, while shopkeepers took precautions to protect their premises from potential damage.

Source: AFP, CHANNELS NEWS.