French authorities mobilize 70,000 police officers and gendarmes ahead of new protests on Halloween

French authorities have mobilized 70,000 police officers and gendarmes for Saturday’s protests against the rising cost of living, organized in several cities during the Halloween holiday. The Interior Ministry fears further violence, looting and arson following incidents at demonstrations on October 17.

In total, approximately 350 actions have been announced, with between 350,000 and 450,000 participants expected. Laurent Nuñez, the interior minister, warned of a “very high risk of public disorder” amid numerous calls for looting circulated on social media.

In Paris, the demonstration was authorized along a peripheral route between Porte de Bagnolet and Porte de Charenton, while other routes were banned. Similar measures were taken in Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux and Rennes. A state of emergency was declared overnight in certain areas of Paris, allowing traffic restrictions to be imposed.

Retailers have voiced their fears after hundreds of stores affected by previous violence failed to reopen. Authorities warned that Halloween masks cannot be used to conceal one’s identity during the protests. The demonstrations began after protests by high school students and, according to the interior minister, 1,193 police officers and gendarmes have been injured.