France, Dec. 31 -- "On New Year's Eve, many people go out into the streets to celebrate the arrival of the new year. It is therefore essential to ensure the safety of all these people," Nuñez toldFrance Inter radio on Tuesday.

"A total of 90,000 police officers and gendarmes will be mobilised. I have reiterated the instructions, which are to act with firmness and authority".

He also referred to his concerns over "the traditional end of year urban riots that occur in certain neighbourhoods, where mortars are thrown at law enforcement officers".

In Paris and its inner suburbs, some 10,000 police officers, gendarmes and soldiers from Operation Sentinelle - whose mission is to protect the public from terror attacks - will be deployed,...