France on High Alert: Police to Target Masked Protesters on Halloween Night

France's Interior Minister Laurent Nunez has issued a stern warning, stating that police are prepared to apprehend masked protesters as the nation anticipates further demonstrations coinciding with Halloween celebrations this Saturday. Approximately 70,000 security personnel will be deployed nationwide, mirroring the deployment from the previous week, which saw more contained protests compared to the violent clashes and looting that occurred on October 17. To prevent a recurrence of the widespread pillaging witnessed on October 17, which forced many businesses to seek state-backed zero-interest loans for recovery, the government will once again prohibit protests in city centers. However, Minister Nunez has cautioned that this weekend's protests are expected to extend later into the evening than previous ones. He drew attention to social media posts inciting gatherings in public squares around 8 p.m. local time on Saturday, noting alarming phrases such as “night of darkness,” “emerging from the shadows,” and “revolution” that have raised concerns among law enforcement. France's Interior Minister Laurent Nunez has stated that police will not tolerate masked protestors. AFP Show caption: France's Interior Minister Laurent Nunez has said police wil… While acknowledging that individuals may “dress up in costumes” for the festivities, Mr. Nunez reiterated that face coverings in public streets have been banned in France since 2010. He emphasized that doing so during a violent protest constitutes an offense punishable by one year in prison and a €15,000 fine. “Halloween night will not be a legitimate reason to conceal one’s face in a public space for the purpose of disturbing public order – let that be clear – and we have issued instructions to this effect to all of our personnel,” Mr. Nunez declared at a press conference. Alain Di Crescenzo, president of CCI France, the national federation of chambers of commerce and industry, expressed his concerns to radio station France Inter on Friday, suggesting that Halloween “would make things worse.” He noted that approximately 3,000 business owners have experienced damage since the protest movement began in mid-September, and “Halloween is heightening their concerns.” Mr. Di Crescenzo added, “I’m telling you, we can’t wait for this Saturday to be over.”