France will deploy 70,000 police backed by specialist units for protests on Saturday, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on Friday, accusing ultra-left groups of encouraging violence and looting after unrest shocked the country last weekend.

The government is seeking to prevent a repeat of last week’s demonstrations that descended into riots, looting and arson in several cities, triggering widespread criticism of authorities for not preventing the mayhem.

“We will be uncompromising with rioters, looters and all those who commit acts of violence,” Nunez told reporters on Friday after meetings involving President Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu and senior security officials.

Nunez said authorities had identified numerous online calls from hard-left groups encouraging attacks and urging activists to target public buildings.

“We are not talking about a nice, friendly demonstration,” Nunez said, adding: “We are ready for tomorrow. We will be extremely vigilant, extremely firm, and we will let absolutely nothing pass.”

Museums, Major Events Shuttered as Precaution :

Anger over living costs and strained public services has drawn students, workers and unions onto the streets of France in recent weeks, but authorities say radical militants and bands of young looters have taken advantage of the dispute to sow chaos.

Police have authorised only a union demonstration in Paris on Saturday, rejecting requests for rallies lodged by France’s main student union, UNEF, and the Yellow Vest movement, an anti-establishment force that first emerged in 2018.

Many French cities beyond Paris have also banned protests, including France’s second and third largest cities, Marseille and Lyon.

UNEF said its rallies, which grew from high school protests last month against teacher shortages and shabby facilities, would go ahead regardless.

Fears of renewed turmoil prompted several of Paris’ best-known cultural institutions, including the Louvre, to close on Saturday, while the city’s normally bustling Art Basel fair will remain shut throughout the weekend.

Business groups also urged shops to stay shut after some 3,000 stores and businesses were ransacked last weekend.