![A group of protesters shield themselves from a water cannon during a protest in Paris, October 24, 2026 [Manu Brabo/Getty Images]](/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/getty_6ae3c8201b-1793312800.jpg?resize=770%2C513&quality=80)
FranceâÂÂs interior minister has announced the deployment of 70,000 police officers across the country in preparation for planned protests on Saturday, coinciding with Halloween.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on Thursday that security measures, including the use of armoured vehicles and water cannon introduced last week, will be strengthened.
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Nationwide protests over the rising cost of living have rocked France, with some degenerating into large-scale looting and riots.
âÂÂThe day of October 31 presents a very high risk of public disorder,â Nunez said at a news conference.
About 70,000 police officers and gendarmes will be mobilised, matching the number deployed at last weekâÂÂs protests, he said, calling the move an âÂÂexceptional measureâÂÂ.
Demonstrations last Saturday drew about 410,000 protesters nationwide, according to the interior ministry, though unions put the figure at roughly double that. The ministry said more than 2,700 people were arrested a week earlier.
Warning on Halloween masking
The âÂÂyellow vestâ movement and student unions have called for a new day of protests on Saturday.
Nunez warned demonstrators against using Halloween as âÂÂa legitimate reason to hide oneâÂÂs faceâ to cause disturbances in public areas.
He told reporters demonstrations would be allowed, but âÂÂnot in city centres, where there is a risk of public disorderâÂÂ.
The interior minister issued a warning to far-right groups that clashed with left-wing protesters at rallies in about 15 French cities.
âÂÂWe will tolerate no excesses,â he said, and pledged an âÂÂextremely firmâ response.
Nunez accused the âÂÂultra-leftâ movement and some yellow vest activists of circulating messages on social media promoting demonstrations on Halloween evening that called for a âÂÂrevolutionâÂÂ.
âÂÂThese gatherings will be banned,â he said.
The yellow vest movement has already announced a âÂÂthird actâ of its protests on Halloween and called for demonstrations outside the National Assembly and all town halls in the country.