France on alert as 70,000 police mobilised for Halloween protests

Rallies banned in city centres as interior minister warns response will be ‘extremely firm’

France’s interior minister has warned of a “very high risk of public disorder” and announced the deployment of around 70,000 police officers for a new wave of protests this weekend.

France has been rocked by widespread anger over the rising cost of living and inequality, with nationwide demonstrations on October 17 degenerating into some of the country’s worst rioting in years.

The Yellow Vest movement and student unions have called for a new day of protests on Saturday.