Thousands of police to be deployed across Paris to stop gilets jaunes vandalism

ARMOURED vehicles and thousands of officers are to be deployed again in Paris today as police anticipate a fifth straight weekend of violent protests.

Police chief Michel Delpuech said that security services intend to deploy the same numbers and strength as last weekend, with about 8,000 officers and 14 armoured vehicles again in the city.

Mr Delpuech said the biggest difference will be the deployment of more groups of patrol officers to catch vandals, who last weekend roamed streets around the Champs Elysees.

Police arrested more than 1,000 people in Paris last weekend and 135 people were injured, including 17 officers

A sixth “yellow vest” protester was killed this week, after being hit by a lorry at a protest roadblock.

Despite calls from authorities urging protesters – who wear the fluorescent safety vests that France requires drivers to keep in their cars – to stop the protests, the movement rocking the country has so far showed no signs of abating.

“Last week, we pretty much handled the yellow vests but we also witnessed scenes of breakage and looting by criminals,” Mr Delpuech said.

“Our goal will be better control.”

In an effort to defuse the tensions sweeping the country, president Emmanuel Macron has acknowledged he is partially responsible for the anger behind the anti-government protests.

He has announced a series of measures aimed at improving French workers’ spending power but has refused to reinstate a wealth tax.

Many protesters have expressed disappointment at the measures andunions are now calling for rolling strikes.

“The best action is to go on strike,” said Philippe Martinez, head of leftist trade union CGT.