French authorities have sought to lower tensions after riots and looting on October 17 ⁠caught security forces off guard, leaving damaged shops and public buildings across the country and fuelling criticism of Macron's handling of the crisis."We are extremely vigilant because it is out of the question to relive October ​17," government spokeswoman Maud Bregeon told a press conference after Wednesday's cabinet meeting.Around 70,000 police have been deployed nationwide with the domestic intelligence service expecting between 500,000 and 700,000 people to join demonstrations outside Paris, it said.Macron convened a defence and security ​meeting on Wednesday ahead of the protests, underlining how a movement that began with student ​anger over deteriorating school conditions and concerns about opportunities for young people has evolved into a broader challenge to his government.