France to deploy 70,000 officers for Halloween protests

France plans to deploy about 70,000 police officers and gendarmes on October 31 as authorities prepare for Halloween demonstrations that Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said carry a very high risk of public disorder. Nuñez said the deployment would match the number mobilised the previous week. He also said security measures introduced to protect shops would be strengthened. Demonstrations would be permitted outside city centres, but not in those areas, which he described as at risk of disorder. Authorities had identified social media calls for Halloween gatherings, including appeals for a revolution, Nuñez said. He said those gatherings would be banned. The Yellow Vest movement and student unions had announced demonstrations, while the minister also warned of the possibility of unregistered marches. The planned protests come amid demonstrations over the cost of living and student concerns about school conditions. Groups have also raised issues including inequality and police conduct. The scale of the October 31 demonstrations and whether disorder will occur were not established in the minister’s warning. The Interior Ministry said demonstrations the previous Saturday drew...