Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across France on Saturday, drawing a massive nationwide security response amid widespread European protests. French authorities deployed 70,000 police officers across the country to manage the unrest.
In Paris, transport authorities took the step of shutting down numerous metro stations to contain crowds and restrict movement through the capital. The closures affected key transit points including Champs-Elysées – Clemenceau, Concorde, and Charles de Gaulle – Étoile. Meanwhile, similar demonstrations and public unrest were anticipated or underway in multiple other European nations, including Italy, Spain, Austria, Portugal, Albania, and Ireland.
The weekend demonstrations also saw local authorities grappling with transit restrictions elsewhere in France. In Marseille, officials initially announced the suspension of public transport services for Saturday, but subsequently reversed the decision following public pushback.
