French authorities fear new street violence at Halloween protests

Paris authorities are bracing for potential new waves of street violence as the city prepares for a series of protests coinciding with Halloween festivities. The demonstrations come amid heightened political tensions, with presidential elections slated for less than six months away and far-right candidate Marine Le Pen holding a strong lead in polls. President Emmanuel Macron recently expressed concern over the escalating unrest, describing the current situation as "not normal" in the lead-up to a crucial election.

Security forces are expected to be on high alert, with up to 70,000 personnel mobilized on Saturday, mirroring the same scale of deployment seen in the previous week. The authorities are determined to prevent a recurrence of the violent clashes that erupted on October 17, during which numerous businesses were damaged, looted, or set ablaze, sparking international outcry.

An aide to Interior Minister Laurent Nunez confirmed that authorities anticipate the level of unrest to be comparable to that witnessed two weeks ago, citing footage depicting violent confrontations, plundered establishments, and buildings reduced to ashes. There are growing fears of acts of vandalism and attempts at looting, with police sources warning of the potential dangers posed by the escalating unrest.