France to deploy 70,000 police for Saturday protests

France will deploy 70,000 police and law enforcement personnel nationwide on Saturday to prepare for a new round of protests coinciding with Halloween celebrations, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced on Thursday.

Protesters have called for fresh demonstrations across the country on Saturday, prompting authorities to step up security measures amid fears of violence and looting.

French broadcaster TF1 reported that the security deployment would be similar to that of October 24, with additional restrictions on demonstrations in city centres.

Nuñez warned that Saturday could be an “unusual” day, citing a high risk of public disorder as protests could continue late into the night.

Describing protesters’ calls for gatherings at various locations around 8:00pm as “particularly violent”, he said the gatherings would be banned and dispersed, with participants arrested.

Nuñez said local authorities would issue orders banning demonstrations in city centres following major disturbances during the October 17 protests.

Authorities will also step up searches of people entering cities and maintain security deployments across the country, he added.

“We will tolerate no disorder. Security forces have been instructed to act with the utmost firmness,” Nuñez told reporters.

However, he stressed that authorised demonstrations would receive security protection to safeguard freedom of assembly and expression.

Following protests on October 17 and 24, Saturday’s planned demonstrations will mark the third consecutive weekend of protests in France.