The U.S. authorities issued a security warning to its citizens in France, urging them to exercise caution and avoid places of demonstrations and mass gatherings, on the eve of new protests scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday.
The U.S. Department of State, in a statement published on the website of the U.S. Embassy in France, noted that recent protests had witnessed violence, widespread property damage, looting, and assaults on police officers, mentioning the use of tear gas and other means by security forces to disperse protesters.
The State Department recommended that its citizens avoid protest sites and large gatherings, emphasizing the need to take necessary security precautions in anticipation of any developments on the ground.
The warning comes after statements from President Donald Trump urging his fellow citizens not to travel to France, as he repeatedly called on French authorities to close the borders, expressing his criticism of the country's immigration policies.
Last Saturday, France witnessed widespread protests involving the Yellow Vests movement, unions, and students, amid heavy security presence, with the current movements tracing back to mid-September, before expanding as groups affected by rising prices joined in.