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Tourist Attractions To Close In France Due To 'Yellow Vest' Protests

The French government announced tourist attractions like the Eiffel Tower, museums and shops will be closed Saturday because of anticipated protests.

Tourist Attractions To Close In France Due To 'Yellow Vest' Protests
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The French government announced Thursday that tourist attractions, like the Eiffel Tower, museums and shops, will be closed Saturday because of the anticipated "yellow vest" protests. The BBC reports officials fear Paris will see "major violence."

The protests started in response to a fuel tax increase and high cost of living under President Emmanuel Macron, and have since turned violent. The Interior Minister attributed the violence to "'a small minority' of the movement who have been radicalized," according to CNN.

In an attempt to calm demonstrators nationwide, a spokeswoman for Macron announced the fuel tax hikes that were set to take effect Jan. 1 will not be introduced until 2020.

France's prime minister said the fourth weekend of protests will be met with tens of thousands of police officers deployed across the country, according to Reuters

Additional reporting from Newsy affiliate CNN.