France braces for Halloween protests amid fears of street violence
Authorities will deploy 70,000 security personnel on Saturday to prevent a repeat of recent unrest.
France prepared on Saturday for a third weekend of protests coinciding with Halloween, according to The Hindu. Authorities have boarded up shops and deployed around 70,000 security personnel to prevent a repeat of street violence seen two weeks ago.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez warned of a very high risk of public disorder on Thursday. An aide to the minister said officials expected street violence on a scale comparable to the unrest on October 17, which involved looted shops and public buildings being set ablaze.
The protest movement includes Yellow Vest activists, trade unions, and students. While the movement initially focused on the cost of living and inequality, it has broadened to include demands for civil liberties and the right to protest.
In Paris, more than 40 metro stations will close and tram services will be disrupted. A night-time curfew will be imposed in the Republique and Chatelet-Les Halles neighbourhoods from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
President Emmanuel Macron said it is not normal for the country to be in such turmoil so close to a presidential election. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen is currently leading opinion polls with elections six months away.