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France: Authorities in the southern French city of Marseille have banned all gatherings and demonstrations from noon to 8:00pm on Monday following violence and looting during weekend protests over the rising cost of living.
The ban, announced by police, came amid heightened security concerns after Saturday’s demonstrations descended into unrest, with incidents of violence and looting reported in the city.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez was expected to visit France’s second-largest city later on Monday as the authorities faced mounting pressure to restore order and review security arrangements.
The visit followed criticism from Marseille’s mayor over the security measures put in place for Saturday’s demonstrations. The mayor raised concerns about how the protests had been managed and the authorities’ preparations to prevent violence.
The restrictions prohibit gatherings and demonstrations during the specified hours as police seek to prevent further unrest and maintain public order.
The weekend protests were driven by concerns over the rising cost of living, an issue that has fuelled public discontent in France and other parts of Europe. The unrest in Marseille has brought renewed attention to the challenge of balancing the right to demonstrate with the need to protect people, businesses and public property.
Further details about the scale of the damage, any arrests and the duration of the restrictions were not immediately available.