France braced for more riots as half a million set to protest

French authorities are deploying massive security measures ahead of anticipated protests this weekend, including 70,000 police officers and gendarmes alongside elite units usually reserved for counter-terrorism operations. President Emmanuel Macron has warned against "illegitimate" protests and blamed ultra-left groups and vandals for last week's riots. Amid fears of more unrest, Parisians are purchasing self-defense weapons like pepper spray and tear gas to protect themselves and their property. Shopkeepers, restaurant owners, and individuals have reported an unprecedented increase in the sale of non-lethal weapons since the previous weekend's violent demonstrations. Protest organizers plan around 600 small-scale events nationwide on Saturday, while requests for larger rallies in Paris were denied by authorities who will only permit a union demonstration along a limited route to avoid the city center. The government is struggling to regain control over widespread rioting that erupted last weekend during largely peaceful cost-of-living protests, leading to extensive looting and vandalism across major cities like Paris, Marseille, and Lyon. France's intelligence service predicts up to half a million protesters could take to the streets this Saturday, heightening concerns of further civil unrest and violence targeting public buildings and state symbols. Macron is expected to meet with high school unions in an attempt to address student grievances before upcoming presidential elections.