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France deploys 70,000 police as new protests loom

The French government announced Friday it will deploy approximately 70,000 police nationwide on Saturday to prevent further violence as renewed demonstrations threaten after a week of severe urban unrest.

24 October 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: France deploys 70,000 police as new protests loom — Archive photoPhoto: Didier Descouens · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

France will deploy about 70,000 police officers nationwide on Saturday as the government prepares for new protests. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced the deployment at a press conference in Paris on Friday. According to reports, the security forces will include elite units typically reserved for counter-terrorism operations.

The police mobilisation comes after some of the worst urban violence in France in recent years erupted on the sidelines of demonstrations a week ago. The government has sought to separate protesters' legitimate demands from the looting and arson that marked Saturday's demonstrations. Nunez warned that calls for violence and looting were circulating on social media.

The current unrest traces back to protests by high school students over learning conditions, which sparked a broader movement that has since spread nationwide. The movement has been fuelled by wider anger over the rising cost of living. Authorities have pledged to prevent further looting, violence and vandalism during the upcoming weekend protests.

President Emmanuel Macron held a meeting of his defence council comprised of top ministers and officials on Friday and was to meet security forces. According to aides, Macron is postponing a visit to Nigeria and Senegal later this month as a result of the crisis.

Museums in Paris announced closures amid the police deployment and planned demonstrations. The unrest has also drawn attention from financial markets, with French bond yields reaching a 24-year high as investors assess budget, growth and sectoral risks in light of the continuing protests.

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