France braces for ‘very high risk’ of disorder at Halloween protests

Authorities vow firm action against violence as yellow vest and student movements announce widespread demonstrations.

A group of protesters shield themselves from a water cannon during a protest in Paris on October 24, 2026 [Manu Brabo/Getty Images]

France’s 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.

“The day of October 31 presents a very high risk of public disorder,” Nunez said at a news conference.

About 70,000 police officers and gendarmes will be mobilised, matching the number deployed at last week’s protests, he said, calling the move an “exceptional measure”.

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.

A protester taking cover behind a sheet of particleboard throws a rock at riot police during a protest in Paris on October 24, 2026 [Manu Brabo/Getty Images]

Warning on Halloween masking

The “ yellow vest ” movement and student unions have called for a new day of protests on Saturday.

Nunez warned demonstrators against using Halloween as “a legitimate reason to hide one’s face” to cause disturbances in public areas.

He told reporters demonstrations would be allowed, but “not in city centres, where there is a risk of public disorder”.

The interior minister issued a warning to far-right groups that clashed with left-wing protesters at rallies in about 15 French cities.

“We will tolerate no excesses,” he said, and pledged an “extremely firm” response.

Nunez accused the “ultra-left” movement and some yellow vest activists of circulating messages on social media promoting demonstrations on Halloween evening that called for a “revolution”.

“These gatherings will be banned,” he said.

The yellow vest movement has already announced a “third act” of its protests on Halloween and called for demonstrations outside the National Assembly and all town halls in the country.

随着“黄背心”运动和学生运动宣布举行大规模示威活动，当局誓言采取坚决措施打击暴力行为。

2026年10月24日，巴黎，一群抗议者在抗议活动中用手遮挡水炮。[Manu Brabo/Getty Images]

法国内政部长宣布将在全国部署 7 万名警察，以应对计划于周六（万圣节）举行的抗议活动。

内政部长洛朗·努内斯周四表示，将加强包括上周引入的装甲车和水炮在内的安全措施。

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法国全国范围内爆发了抗议生活成本上涨的示威活动，部分示威活动演变为大规模抢劫和骚乱。

努涅斯在新闻发布会上说：“10月31日这一天极有可能发生公共骚乱。”

他表示，将动员约 7 万名警察和宪兵，与上周抗议活动中部署的人数相同，并称此举为“特殊措施”。

据内政部统计，上周六全国约有41万人参加了示威游行，但工会方面表示实际人数约为这一数字的两倍。内政部还称，一周前有超过2700人被捕。

2026年10月24日，在巴黎的一次抗议活动中，一名抗议者躲在一块刨花板后面，向防暴警察投掷石块。[Manu Brabo/Getty Images]

万圣节面具警告

“黄背心”运动和学生会呼吁在周六举行新一轮抗议活动。

努涅斯警告示威者不要利用万圣节作为“遮住脸的正当理由”在公共场所制造骚乱。

他告诉记者，示威活动将被允许，但“不能在市中心举行，因为那里有发生公共骚乱的风险”。

法国内政部长向在约 15 个法国城市的集会上与左翼抗议者发生冲突的极右翼团体发出警告。

“我们绝不容忍任何过激行为，”他说道，并承诺将采取“极其坚决”的回应。

努涅斯指责“极左”运动和一些“黄背心”运动人士在社交媒体上散布信息，鼓吹在万圣节之夜举行示威活动，呼吁“革命”。

“这些集会将被禁止，”他说。

“黄背心”运动已经宣布将在万圣节发起“第三阶段”抗议活动，并呼吁在国民议会和全国所有市政厅外举行示威游行。