Interior Minister urges heightened alert for weekend protests against police gun law

The French interior minister, Laurent Nuñez, sent a handwritten telegram to prefects and senior police and gendarmerie officials urging "particular vigilance" during the weekend protests against a draft law that would create a presumption of legitimate firearm use by police. About a hundred demonstrations are planned nationwide, including major gatherings in Marseille, Lyon, Lille, Bordeaux, Nice, Aix-en-Provence and a rally from Place de la République in Paris.

Opponents, backed by more than 150 groups such as the Parti socialiste, Les Écologistes and La France insoumise, argue the measure grants a "license to kill" and undermines the rule of law. Nuñez cautioned that, although most events are organized by civil society, the anticipated participation of radical ultra-left elements could lead to public order incidents. He also highlighted that the protests will run alongside the European Heritage Days, when many public sites are open to visitors, adding another layer of complexity for security forces.