France to deploy 70,000 security personnel for Saturday protests

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced that 70,000 police officers and security personnel will be deployed nationwide for Saturday’s demonstrations, which coincide with Halloween celebrations. Partial bans on demonstrations will be imposed in city centers, while authorized protests will be protected to safeguard freedom of assembly and expression.

Scraper SystemOctober 30, 2026, 01:24 PM

France to deploy 70,000 security personnel for Saturday protests

France will deploy 70,000 police officers and security personnel nationwide ahead of demonstrations planned for Saturday. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced that security measures had been increased because the protests coincide with Halloween celebrations.

Nunez said Saturday would be an “unusual” day carrying a “very high risk” for public order. He said the demonstrations were expected to continue into the evening and noted that some calls were for people to gather around 8 p.m.

Partial bans to be imposed in city centers

Interior Minister Nunez said some calls included language advocating revolution or uprising, and that some of them were “particularly violent.” He said these gatherings would be banned, adding that if they took place, the demonstrations would be dispersed and arrests would be made.

Local prefects will impose partial bans on demonstrations in city centers, citing serious public-order incidents during the protests on Oct. 17. Checks on people entering cities will be intensified, and security personnel will be deployed at various locations nationwide.

Police providing security during a demonstration in Paris (file photo)

Nunez said, “We will not tolerate any disorder,” and announced that he had instructed security forces to act with “maximum determination.”

Authorized demonstrations to be protected

The interior minister stressed that demonstrations approved by local authorities would be protected to safeguard freedom of assembly and expression.

The actions planned for Saturday will be the third consecutive Saturday of protests in France, following demonstrations held on Oct. 17 and 24. The security operation is expected to be similar to the measures implemented on Oct. 24, with restrictions in city centers expected to be tightened.

France to deploy 70,000 security personnel for Saturday protests