France Deploys 70,000 Police Officers Amid Warnings of High Risk of Violence at Halloween Protests
Authorities warned of a very high risk of public disorder as they reinforced security after recent rioting and looting damaged shops and public buildings.
- On Saturday, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez warned of a "very high risk of public disorder" for today's Halloween protests, announcing the deployment of 70,000 police and gendarmes nationwide while banning city-centre gatherings.
- Recent clashes on October 17 and October 24 degenerated into looting, prompting authorities to acknowledge security failures that established the pattern of escalation necessitating today's security measures.
- Nunez pledged an "extremely firm" response as authorities introduced armored vehicles and water cannons to address social media calls from radicalized groups urging a "revolution" on Halloween.
- Businesses across Paris boarded up storefronts as authorities imposed a night-time curfew in the Republique and Chatelet-Les Halles neighborhoods, while student union Unef representatives labeled recent meetings a "dialogue of the deaf."
- With elections just six months away, the tense political climate pressures the administration to project stability; far-right leader Marine Le Pen currently leads opinion polls, influencing the government's strict urban security strategy.
369 Articles
369 Articles
The French authorities fear that the mobilizations against expensive life on Saturday, in the middle of Halloween, will be marked by violence and looting, as on 17 October. They renewed an exceptional security system with 70,000 police officers and gendarmes deployed.
A new day of mobilization is organised on Saturday throughout France, at the call of collectives of Yellow Gilets, students and high school students. Processions placed under high surveillance, with more than 70,000 members of the police deployed.
Germany and France brace for mass protests over living costs
Germany and France are preparing for mass demonstrations on Saturday, 31 October, as protests over rising living costs, education funding and public services spread across Europe. More than 160,000 people have registered for rallies in Germany, while French authorities are deploying 70,000 police officers following weeks of demonstrations that have included riots and looting. The protests coincide with Halloween celebrations, prompting authoriti…
France on alert as Halloween protests raise risk of violence
PARIS, Oct 31 — France today braced for a third weekend of protests coinciding with Halloween, as shops boarded up and authorities scrambled to prevent a repeat of the street violence that swept the country two weeks ago.The demonstrations come in an increasingly febrile political climate, with presidential elections six months away and far-right leader Marine Le Pen leading opinion polls.President Emmanuel Macron this week said it was “not norm…
For this new day of mobilization against expensive life "at very high risk of disturbances to public order", some 70,000 police officers and gendarmes are mobilized throughout France. Follow this
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