France protests latest: Shopkeepers stock up on weapons as Paris braces for another weekend of chaos
Shopkeepers in Paris have stocked up on self-defence weapons amid fears that planned demonstrations this weekend could turn violent, according to a report.
Gun shops in the French capital told The Times that they had seen a rise in demand for “pepper-gel” self-defence weapons from shopkeepers desperate to protect their stores from looting.
French president Emmanuel Macron is expected to meet with high school unions on Friday in an 11th hour attempt to quell unrest anticipated over the weekend.
The outgoing head of state is to meet with high school students and their associations at the presidential palace at 3pm to discuss the concerns and demands underlying the recent tumult.
Protests erupted last month in response to the perceived state of decline in schools, with students aggrieved by teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms and crumbling infrastructure.
They have since ballooned into sweeping nationwide rallies, which last weekend descended into rioting, vandalism, arson and looting.
Mr Macron vowed on Thursday to ban all demonstrations not organised by unions, while Paris was to extend its nighttime curfew until Monday, but major events were still planned for the weekend.
