Halloween unrest: Spain prevents riots as violence hits France and Germany

Spanish police prevented widespread Halloween unrest by identifying over 1,000 individuals and making at least 11 arrests during a major nationwide security operation targeting suspected organizers and participants linked to the Blocus movement. Meanwhile, France and Germany faced violent demonstrations on Halloween night, with shops looted in Frankfurt and police attacked in several cities.

French authorities estimated around 320,000 participants nationwide, with around 70,000 gathering in Paris, though overall turnout was lower than previous weeks. The unrest in France followed several weeks of protests over deteriorating school facilities, teacher shortages, and education funding. In Germany, thousands of young people participated in demonstrations demanding better education, affordable housing, and improved public services, but trouble erupted in Frankfurt after the main demonstrations, with masked rioters smashing shop windows and looting businesses, including a gun shop.

Despite the widespread violence in France and Germany, Spain managed to prevent similar disturbances thanks to their security operation.