[Anchor]

Tensions are running high in France as additional rallies are scheduled for this weekend, with the shock of last weekend's massive violent protests still lingering. Criticized for its lax response to the demonstrations, the French government has decided to deploy military troops and armored vehicles for this weekend's protests.

Our correspondent Kwon Yeongin reports from Paris.

[Reporter]

Police helicopters are hovering over downtown Paris, where a nighttime curfew has been imposed.

Scanning various areas with searchlights from the air, the scene evokes something out of a war movie.

The city of Paris continued its nighttime curfew for a second consecutive day in the main areas where the protests occurred.

Night curfews also remained in effect in other cities, including Marseille and Lyon.

[Ceyu / Paris Resident: One thing is for sure, this situation is the last thing we want, and it should not have a greater impact on the lives of ordinary citizens.]

Signaling Act 2 of the demonstrations following last week, the protest organizers, the Yellow Vests, officially submitted a rally notification to hold a demonstration at the Place de la Bastille in Paris this coming Saturday.

The French government stated that it will sternly crack down on violent protests and deploy military troops to the protest sites this week.

These troops, who carry out anti-terrorism vigilance missions, are planned to be mobilized along with water cannons and armored vehicles.

[Nunez / French Interior Ministry: We will naturally deploy vigilance troops this time. We will assign them guarding and security duties so that police personnel can carry out other missions.]

Regarding last weekend's protests, 800 people have been referred to prosecutors so far, and 149 remain in custody.

Paris police have banned the possession of containers filled with oil or gas and fireworks, and also prohibited the wearing of protective gear such as helmets around schools.

Economic damages resulting from last weekend's violence, such as looting and arson, are estimated to reach up to 1.8 trillion won (approx. 1.2 billion USD). The French parliament has begun reviewing a government bill that would hold individuals liable for up to 10,000 euros in damages even for simply participating in violent protests.

With scars of the violence remaining across the city and new rallies scheduled for this weekend, tension is rising again as some stores board up their windows with plywood to prepare against looting.

(Video Shooting: Kim Si-nae, Video Editing: Park Choon-bae)