About 320,000 join third weekend of French protests, NPR reports
France held a third weekend of protests on Halloween, with 70,000 police and gendarmes deployed and NPR reporting about 320,000 people in the streets nationwide.
Some 320,000 people took to the streets across France on Saturday, NPR reports, in a third weekend of protests that fell on Halloween. No other outlet has given a turnout figure.
About 70,000 police and gendarmes are deployed, PBS NewsHour reports. Paris marches were rerouted to the capital's edge. PBS also reports youth-led demonstrations in Germany and Italy.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez warned on Thursday of a "very high risk of public disorder" and promised an "extremely firm" response. NPR says he pointed especially to the hours after dark on Halloween. France 24 reports officials fear rioters could hide behind festive masks. The Guardian reports about 150 planned demonstrations.
Authorities want to prevent a repeat of October 17, when protests turned into rioting and looting. France 24 calls it some of the country's worst rioting in years. France 24 reports that marches are restricted in several cities, Paris police authorised only one demonstration, on the capital's outskirts, and curfews are in place in parts of Paris. Shops have boarded up.
France 24 says the protests began over the cost of living, inequality and poor school conditions. They now also include demands for greater civil liberties and the right to protest. Yellow Vest activists, trade unions and students are taking part. Presidential elections are six months away.
Fox News reports losses of more than $1 billion from the unrest. Its summary does not say how that was calculated or what it covers.
Reported by
- Al JazeeraFrance braces for ‘very high risk’ of disorder at Halloween protestsThu, Oct 29, 7:52 PM EDT
- France 24French minister warns of 'very high' violence risk as country braces for Halloween protestsFri, Oct 30, 2:57 AM EDT
- France 24France braces for new wave of protests, govt warns of 'very high' violence riskFri, Oct 30, 10:35 AM EDT
- Al JazeeraGermany and France brace for protests on Halloween weekendFri, Oct 30, 8:17 PM EDT
- France 24Live: France braces for Halloween protests, government vows tough responseSat, Oct 31, 1:53 AM EDT
- France 24France braces for Halloween protests, shops board up storefrontsSat, Oct 31, 3:40 AM EDT
- France 24Third weekend of protests in FranceSat, Oct 31, 7:13 AM EDT
- France 24France's Nunez warns of high risk during protestsSat, Oct 31, 7:15 AM EDT
- The GuardianFrance braced for fresh unrest as 70,000 police deployed across 150 planned demonstrations – Europe liveSat, Oct 31, 7:27 AM EDT
- Fox NewsFrance deploys 70,000 police officers to prepare for new wave of protests on HalloweenSat, Oct 31, 10:27 AM EDT
- PBS NewsHourA third weekend of protests in France as youth-led rallies sweep EuropeSat, Oct 31, 1:14 PM EDT
- NPRFrance seethes again as youth-led protests sweep EuropeSat, Oct 31, 3:30 PM EDT
This story was written by AI using only the reports listed above, and published without a person reviewing it first. It is rewritten as new reports arrive. Read the original reporting for full detail. Spot an error? Tell us.
Earlier versions (5)
- Sat, Oct 31, 1:20 PM EDT, 5 outlets: France holds third weekend of protests with 70,000 police deployed
- Sat, Oct 31, 10:40 AM EDT, 4 outlets: France deploys 70,000 security staff for third weekend of protests
- Sat, Oct 31, 7:30 AM EDT, 3 outlets: France deploys 70,000 security staff for third weekend of protests
- Sat, Oct 31, 2:30 AM EDT, 2 outlets: France on alert for third weekend of protests, 70,000 security staff deployed
- Fri, Oct 30, 3:00 AM EDT, 2 outlets: France to deploy 70,000 police ahead of Saturday protests