Minister warns of risk of violence ahead of Halloween 'night of darkness' protests

With student groups and Yellow Vest activists set for a third consecutive weekend of demonstrations against poor conditions in schools and the rising cost of living, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez has said 70,000 police officers and gendarmes will be deployed across France on Saturday. 

Issued on: 31/10/2026 - 09:34

"Demonstrations will be allowed, but not in city centres, where there is a risk of public disorder," said Nuñez. "We will tolerate no excesses. If there are, there will be an extremely firm response."

The Interior Ministry ​said 410,000 people took part in marches on 24 October when authorities deployed 70,000 police officers throughout the country.

The same number will police the streets again on Saturday, Nuñez said.

Last week's deployment helped ​avert a repeat of the looting and vandalism that marred protests in several French cities on 17 October, causing damage to shops and public buildings estimated at several hundred million euros.

In Paris, police chiefs have announced a route for Saturday 's demonstration between Porte de Charenton and Porte de Bagnolet, on the eastern edge of the capital – despite unions saying they wanted to march closer to the city centre, between Place de la Bastille and Place de la Nation.

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Nuñez added that Halloween celebrations had prompted posts on social media calling for a “Night of Darkness” from Saturday into Sunday.

"The posts very clearly encourage serious breaches of public order,” he said. "We are seeing ‌many calls for rallies coming from the labour movement, the radicalised far left and certain radicalised Yellow Vests websites urging people ‌to attend rallies after 8pm. They're accompanied by various messages which are, let's say, quite radical."

He said Halloween would not be a legitimate reason to wear a mask or cause disturbances.

US security alert

Nuñez is due to appear before a parliamentary committee on Tuesday, set up to investigate the level of preparation for the initial round of nationwide demonstrations.

On 20 October, Nuñez told French MPs in the National Assembly that there had been shortcomings in intelligence and forecasting, particularly over the number of demonstrators and the possible presence of looters.

The committee will also examine the possibility of the involvement of foreign agents and the influence of social media.

France counts the cost of violence and looting during day of action

On Friday, the United States issued a “security alert” to its citizens in France.

“Recent demonstrations have been violent and have involved extensive damage to property, uncontrolled looting and attacks on police,” the US embassy in France said on its website.

The embassy urged American citizens to avoid areas where demonstrations and gatherings were taking place and to exercise caution if they found themselves unexpectedly near crowds.

Ahead of the US midterm elections on 3 November, President Donald Trump has cited the violence seen in France during his campaign speeches as a warning of what could happen in the US if Republican candidates are not elected.

President Emmanuel Macron has hit out at foreign leaders he says are exploiting events in France for domestic political purposes, describing their comments as “unacceptable” and “stupid”. Asked whether he was referring to Trump, Macron replied: “Among others.”

(with newswires)

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