Paris, Oct. 24 -- Ahead of fresh protests scheduled for Saturday, France will deploy around 70,000 police personnel nationwide as authorities prepare to prevent a recurrence of widespread looting, arson and vandalism that erupted alongside demonstrations last week.

According to France24, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced the security deployment on Friday (local time), warning that calls for violence and looting were circulating on social media as the government sought to maintain public order.

President Emmanuel Macron convened a meeting of his defence council, comprising senior ministers and officials, amid the escalating crisis. He was also scheduled to meet security forces as authorities stepped up preparations for the weeken...