Europe is bracing for a weekend of protests and potential unrest, with police on alert in France and Spain and large demonstrations expected in Germany, as several countries prepare for Halloween-related gatherings. Authorities are stepping up preparations amid concerns about possible violence, with demonstrations planned across the continent on Saturday, Oct. 31. Newsweek contacted the French interior minister via online form and the Spanish and German interior ministries via email on Friday for comment.
France is preparing for demonstrations in cities across the country, with Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez warning of a heightened risk of violence. He said demonstrations could go ahead but would be barred from city centers . "The day of October 31 presents a very high risk of public disorder," Nuñez told reporters.
The government plans to deploy 70,000 police officers and security personnel on Saturday, the same number sent out the previous weekend, as reported by France 24. Nuñez said several groups had used social media to call for gatherings that could turn violent, particularly after 8pm when more mainstream demonstrations are expected to have ended. He cited calls from the “radical far left” and some Yellow Vest networks, warning that the authorities would respond with an "extremely firm" approach.
The Interior Ministry said 410,000 people took part in marches across France the previous Saturday. The deployment of 70,000 security personnel helped prevent a repeat of the looting and vandalism that affected several cities on Oct. 17, according to authorities. Labour leaders and students have called for further demonstrations on Saturday, with anger over wages, living costs and public services extending beyond the student movement that began mobilizing last month.
In Spain, police in Barcelona are on alert for possible new protests after online groups called for another gathering on Halloween. The warnings follow unrest in the city on Oct. 24, when more than 600 young people gathered in the centre following a social media campaign organised under the name Blocus. At least 23 businesses were looted or vandalised and firefighters dealt with 33 small fires, according to authorities.
A total of 130 people were arrested in weekend unrest, including 76 minors, as reported by Anadolu Agency (AA). Around 20 people were also arrested following further disturbances in the northern city of Bilbao on Monday. A Telegram group operating under the name Blocus BCN has since circulated messages calling for another gathering on Oct. 31, encouraging participants to wear black clothing and Halloween masks to avoid being identified by police, as per the outlet.
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