Clashes break out at France’s Halloween protests, as hundreds of thousands take to streets

Clashes erupted in France during Halloween-themed protests against high living costs and police violence, with tear gas deployed by authorities in Paris and other cities. Hundreds of thousands marched across the nation, some disguised as clowns and witches. In Paris, police fired tear gas at demonstrators who used projectiles to attack officers, including a Molotov cocktail.

In Lyon, projectiles were thrown at police, prompting the deployment of tear gas. Toulouse saw water cannons used against an unauthorized protest of several thousand participants. Across France, approximately 320,000 people rallied, with 70,000 in Paris and nearly half a million nationwide, according to youth organizations. Police arrested over 290 individuals in the country.

The protests, involving Yellow Vest activists, trade unions, and students, initially centered on economic issues but later expanded to demand civil liberties and protest rights. Similar demonstrations occurred in Germany, while in France, tensions rose ahead of presidential elections and amid a recession threat. Authorities detected online calls for a "revolution" during the Halloween-themed events.