French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin has announced that approximately 45,000 police officers will be deployed tonight, matching the number deployed during the previous day. The minister confirmed that additional reinforcements are being sent to Marseille and Lyon, following requests from local officials for extra assistance. However, it remains unclear whether these reinforcements are in addition to the 45,000 officers or if authorities are reallocating police from other areas.
In the aftermath of the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old French boy of Algerian descent during a traffic stop, accusations of racism within the French police have escalated. Despite these allegations, Thierry Clair, the deputy secretary general of UNSA-Police, a French police union, denies that officers are racist. Clair emphasized that individuals should not be targeted based on their skin colour and stated that while some officers have been disciplined or dismissed for inappropriate behaviour, such instances are marginal and can be found in any organization or institution.
The United Nations (UN) office in Geneva has also voiced concerns about the allegations of racism within the French police force. Overnight, more than 1,300 individuals were arrested across France as protests entered their fourth night, ignited by the police shooting incident. Justice Minister Éric Dupond-Moretti revealed that approximately 30% of those arrested during the protests were under 18 years old. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin further disclosed that the average age of those arrested was 17 and that over 200 police officers were injured during the unrest.
As tensions persist, precautionary measures are being taken in several cities. In the Paris region, all buses and trams will cease operation after 21:00 local time for the second consecutive day. The public transport authority of Île-de-France, which includes the capital and its suburbs, announced that this measure will be implemented every evening until further notice. Similarly, public transport services in Marseille will be cancelled after 19:00 local time, while in Lyon, services will halt after 20:00 local time.

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