France Closes 'Louvre' and Other Museums on Saturday in Anticipation of Protests
The French Ministry of Culture closed the Louvre and other museums on Saturday due to anticipated protests.
Translated by Qiyas from السياسة — Original source
- 217 people jailed in connection with riots; around 2,700 detained
- Tightened security measures and bans on demonstrations in several cities to prevent a recurrence of violence and vandalism
The French Ministry of Culture announced on Thursday the closure of the Louvre Museum and several other museums in the capital, Paris, next Saturday, as a precaution against potential violence and looting amid anticipated protests.
According to the French Press Agency (AFP), the closure also includes the Musée d’Orsay and the Picasso Museum, as part of preventive measures to protect cultural institutions during demonstrations scheduled for Saturday, October 24.
In this context, French Minister of Justice Gérald Darmanin announced that 217 individuals have been jailed following swift trials linked to the violence and riots that occurred during recent protests in the country.
Darmanin stated that authorities had detained around 2,700 people since last Saturday, with more than 1,000 of them brought before the courts, and indicated that the number of those imprisoned could rise.
These developments come amid heightened security preparations to confront a new wave of protests, as calls intensify for large-scale demonstrations next Saturday.
According to French media reports, the measures include reinforcing police and gendarmerie deployments, imposing bans on demonstrations in the city centers of Rouen, Le Havre, and Toulon, along with restrictions on gatherings in other areas, aimed at preventing a recurrence of the violence and vandalism that accompanied last week’s protests.
