France is to mobilise 100,000 police and gendarmes on New Year’s Eve to crack down on parties and enforce a curfew imposed to combat coronavirus.
The plan also aims to prevent urban unrest, which has seen large numbers of vehicles set alight in previous years.
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin has ordered a visible security presence in city centres and flashpoint suburbs from 20:00, when the curfew begins.
In Paris half of the metro lines will be closed in the evening.
Mr Darmanin has also asked for a wider public transport shutdown across the country to be considered.
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France has confirmed 2.6m Covid-19 cases, the fifth highest total in the world, and more than 64,000 deaths.
Officials have said that in areas with rising infection rates the overnight curfew could be brought forward to 18:00.
However a government spokesman said there was no need for local lockdowns for now. France has had two national lockdowns and bars, restaurants and cultural attractions will remain closed into January.
Source: Covid: France mobilises 100,000 police to stop New Year’s Eve gatherings – BBC News
