Protests in France continue on Saturday, October 24, 2026, as security measures have been significantly increased. According to officials, about 70,000 police forces have been deployed nationwide to control the situation. This decision was made after Interior Minister Laurent Nune admitted to losing control during last week's protests.
Concerns About Looting and Violence
Last week, groups of individuals stormed over 3,000 shops across France, causing significant damage. The owner of a tobacco shop in Paris, Jonathan Syad, expressed concern that looters might return to the streets, and some shop owners are even considering buying weapons for self-defense. One resident of Paris stated that they would avoid areas where protests are taking place and hope that the situation does not worsen like last week when clashes intensified in areas far from the demonstrations.
Number of Protesters and Incidents in Various Cities
Paris police reported that about 110,000 people have taken to the streets of Paris to protest. The "Yellow Vest" movement, which is active in protesting high living costs, along with protesting students, held demonstrations. According to the CGT labor union, 800,000 people participated in protests across France.
On this day, clashes erupted in several cities including Marseille, Lyon, and Paris. Police used tear gas to control the situation, and this action was also taken in some areas including Lyon, Lille, and Toulouse. Meanwhile, in Orléans, protesters demonstrated against a congress related to the far-right party of Marine Le Pen.
According to Laurent Nune, the Interior Minister, 135 people were arrested in connection with these protests, and large quantities of weapons including metal balls and fireworks were confiscated. He emphasized that the police are closely monitoring the situation to prevent further violence.
The Interior Minister also announced that police forces are on standby and that he has personally met closely with special intervention units in Paris. Nune stated, "Our forces are on alert, and necessary adjustments have been made."
The "Yellow Vest" movement has planned to hold new protests on October 31 and has called for new gatherings outside parliaments and town halls across the country. Members of this group protested against the rerouting of demonstrations proposed by the unions.
