Demonstrations and rallies banned in Paris this Thursday

Paris Prefecture has announced a ban on demonstrations and rallies in the French capital on Thursday, 22 October, for fear of riots "in a high-tension and vindictive social context." 

According to the statement published by the Prefecture on social media, the ban will be extended from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. . The ban covers areas such as the Champs-Elysées, the Les Halles shopping centre, the Île de la Cité, Madeleine, the Place de la République, the Trocadéro viewpoint and the capital's main railway stations, where the police will prevent any political concentration.

The French police have argued that the country is in a "climate of vindication of maximum tension" and that there is arisk that the riotsofthe last few days  willbe repeated . Thus, the demonstration called for Thursday puts them on the brink of the mobilization announced for 24 October.

In this context, French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu promised on Tuesday to carry out a "massive" police deployment on Saturday in response to the mobilizations called for by the "yellow vests" and student unions.

This ban on demonstrations is in addition to the partial curfew for tonight in Paris (the third consecutive curfew). It is not yet clear whether the return home will also be imposed on Thursday night to Friday night.