(VOVWORLD) - The situation in France has been relatively stable. Tensions remained in Paris on Saturday, while in big cities like Marseille, where riots have been reported in recent nights, a few small clashes remain.
 A car was burned in rioting in Paris on June 29, 2023. (photo: AFP/VNA) |
The French authorities have deployed 45,000 policemen, armored vehicles, elite police units, and other security forces to deal with riots that broke out for several days across the country.
French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said that the authorities will deploy more security forces to the cities if violence continues.
Unrest and riots erupted over the past 4 days in France following the death of a 17-year-old boy who was allegedly shot by police during a traffic stop. The riots left more than 200 policemen injured. Looting and smashing of shops happened in many cities such as Marseille and Lyon. More than 1,350 vehicles and 234 buildings were burned and 2,560 fires broke out in public places. According to preliminary statistics, police arrested more than 1,300 extremist protesters.
Due to domestic unrest, French President Emmanuel Macron postponed his state visit to Germany, which was scheduled for Sunday.
Before that he also left the European Union Summit in Brussels early to return home to chair a security meeting. The President has called for people's calm and confidence in justice, and asked families to keep their teenagers at home and not incite hatred and violence on social media.
Experts said that social unrest is having a significant impact on President Macron's foreign policy.