France plans troop support for Saturday security operation

The French government plans to deploy troops alongside police and mount a large security operation on Saturday, October 24, after unrest and looting across the country. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced the planned operation, while Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez told lawmakers the military would support police, freeing officers and gendarmes for law-enforcement duties. The announcement followed rioting and looting in Paris and other cities on October 17, and criticism of authorities’ response. Lecornu said the immediate priority was restoring order. He also said further curfews would be imposed where necessary. Curfews introduced in affected areas had helped bring relative calm, officials said. Lecornu acknowledged intelligence failures, police deployments that were too static and a decision not to cancel planned police leave. Nuñez said he regretted the mistakes and accepted responsibility. The government has also pledged to review its tactics. Parliament is setting up an inquiry into the causes of the unrest. The scale and causes of the protests remain politically contested. Lecornu blamed far-left groups, while left-wing groups and protesters cited anger over...