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France Deploys 70,000 Police for Halloween Protests

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World Desk

In Short: France is deploying 70,000 police officers to prepare for a third wave of anti-government protests expected on Halloween.

French authorities are gearing up for another round of protests, with 70,000 police officers set to be deployed across the country on Saturday, according to Fox News.

The unrest, which began over rising living costs and education issues, has seen more than 550,000 people demonstrate in France on October 17, with 410,000 participating in the second round of protests on October 24, as reported by Hurriyetdailynews and PBS.

In response to the ongoing protests, the French government is drafting a law that would impose fines of up to €10,000 on rioters who cause property damage, as per Fox News.

One of the planned events, a march between the squares of Republique and Bastille in Paris, has been banned by France's top administrative court, as reported by Fox News.

Videos on social media showed fresh confrontations during the protests, with some participants throwing projectiles at police in Lyon, prompting tear gas use, according to RTE.ie.

Protesters in Paris and other cities carried signs reading, 'No need for tear gas to make our future look bleak' and 'Dressed up as an angry citizen for Halloween,' as reported by AFP.

The protests have drawn a mix of reactions. Morgane Voisin, 22, and Corentin Schnell, 19, wore white outfits to indicate they were 'street medics' providing first aid, as noted by The New York Times.

President Emmanuel Macron expressed concern over the unrest, stating it was 'not normal' for France to be in such turmoil close to a presidential election.

The protests have caused an estimated €1 billion in damage in France, leading to calls for parents to be held financially liable for destruction caused by their children, as reported by Newsweek.

What this adds

Background

What's confirmed

• Placards read: "No need for tear gas to make our future look bleak" and "Dressed up as an angry citizen for Halloween." "We say no to the cost of living, no to the far right, yes to high school students' demands, yes to giving citizens a voice," said Camille Guerin, 31, a demonstrator in the western city of Nantes.
• Mass protests on Oct. 17 that deteriorated into some of France’s worst rioting in years drew 550,000 people around France, and demonstrations on Oct. 24 drew 410,000, according to government estimates.

What's still developing

• Scootercaster identified the object as a Molotov cocktail.
• He said some online messages referred to Halloween while also calling for "revolution" and "insurrection".
• “We are fully prepared for those looking for confrontation tonight,” he added.
• Riot police charged to disperse small groups of troublemakers at the end of the Paris march, fired tear gas in Lyon, France's third-largest city, and Toulouse in the southwest.
• Massive protests were sweeping Europe on Saturday as part of demonstrations driven by the cost of living and deficient public services, with police bracing for potential violence after recent looting and riots.
• Germany and France are preparing for potential protests over the weekend that could coincide with Halloween festivities.
• “Shopkeepers can’t wait for Saturday to be over,” Di Crescenzo told broadcaster France Inter.
• Europe is bracing for a weekend of protests and potential unrest, with police on alert in France and Spain and large demonstrations expected in Germany, as several countries prepare for Halloween -related gatherings.

Sources

• Fox Newslink
• Politicstodaylink
• The New York Timeslink
• Thedailyjagranlink
• RTE.ielink
• AFPlink
• Telesurenglishlink
• The Guardianlink
• Englishlink
• NBC Newslink
• Al Jazeeralink
• Hurriyetdailynewslink
• Newsweeklink
• PBSlink
• WarpBeat — background on Germany and France brace for protests on Halloween weekend link
• ABC News — video link