"Following the seizure of 28 Molotov cocktails in a truck, as well as three improvised explosive devices at an intersection in the Aussonne commune, the Montauban prosecutor and the prefect of the Tarn-et-Garonne department strongly condemn such actions, which suggest that serious unrest is planned for December 8," the statement, published on the prefecture’s Twitter page on Friday, said.
READ MORE: Radicals Want to Overthrow French Gov't Via Yellow Vest Protests — Spokesman
The Montauban prosecutor launched a criminal investigation under an article on the transportation of explosives. The maximum penalty for such an offence is 10 years of imprisonment.
The prefect of police, in turn, urged the demonstrators to refrain from violence during the upcoming protests.
The so-called yellow vest protests, named after the reflective vests all French drivers are required to keep in their cars, have been ongoing in France since November 17 in response to the government's plans to raise fuel tax. At least four people have died in the protests that turned violent and more have been injured.
"Yellow vest" protests in France have also been supported by a massive rally of hundreds of high school students expressing their discontent with the new education reform, as well as farmers and ambulance personnel.
