France Mobilises 70,000 Security Personnel Ahead of Renewed Nationwide Protests

The demonstrations brought together anger over school conditions, rising living costs and deteriorating public services. BBC Persian reported that protests over inadequate schools and household costs continued across France, with police and demonstrators confronting one another in several cities.

The movement also drew in the Yellow Vests. According to ISNA, French officials estimated that about 550,000 people took to the streets on October 17. Tabnak reported more than 800,000 participants. The supplied reports do not explain the difference between those estimates.

On October 17, demonstrations turned violent in Paris and other cities. Radio Farda reported clashes and police use of tear gas in Paris and Marseille, while Deutsche Welle Persian described fires, looting and arrests amid protests extending to Lyon.

By October 18, reports put the number arrested at more than 1,200. Deutsche Welle Persian reported 150 injured police officers, injuries among demonstrators and several million euros in damage. The prime minister blamed violent far-left groups, an attribution also reported by VOA Persian.

On October 19, Radio Farda reported that President Emmanuel Macron had condemned the street violence in a televised message. Authorities then introduced curfews in parts of Paris, Lille, Nice and other cities, according to Iran International.

An October 20 report from Iran International described a quiet night after the curfews, but said student groups and Yellow Vests were calling for another round of demonstrations the following Saturday. The lull did not resolve the dispute.

On October 22, Macron said unlawful demonstrations would be banned in the coming days and accused far-left groups of trying to destabilise the country and overthrow the republican system, VOA Persian reported. That day, Mehr News reported the justice minister's announcement that 2,700 people had been arrested during the unrest.

Preparations intensified on October 23. Iran International reported plans to mobilise 70,000 security personnel and close the Louvre and several other major Paris museums on Saturday. ISNA also reported that police trainees were being called in to guard buildings and handle administrative duties.

As of October 24, France was on security alert ahead of the next nationwide demonstrations, according to BBC Persian. The latest supplied coverage describes preparations, not the outcome of those marches.

Paris police were on alert and 24 metro stations had closed, Mehr News reported. Iran International described a heavy security presence in Paris and other cities, with authorities concerned about violence and looting. Demonstrators were protesting living costs, reduced public services and restrictions on gatherings.

The immediate test is whether the October 24 demonstrations proceed without a repeat of the previous weekend's violence. Student groups and Yellow Vests had announced fresh protests, while Macron had warned that the government would not allow the violence to recur, according to VOA Persian.

There is also a proposed route toward talks. ISNA reported that university heads had called for a national youth conference following the spread of student protests. The supplied coverage does not establish whether that proposal will lead to a meeting or government action.