France deploys 70,000 security personnel ahead of Halloween protests

France deployed around 70,000 security personnel on Saturday for a third weekend of protests coinciding with Halloween, following severe street violence and looting two weeks ago.

Authorities closed over 40 metro stations in Paris and restricted demonstrations from city centers amid an escalating political climate ahead of presidential elections in six months.

The protest movement initially focused on living costs before expanding to civil liberties, while officials warned against social media calls for participants to wear masks and spark a revolution.