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.
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France Deploys 70,000 Security Personnel
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.
Barcelona Police Prepare For Halloween Unrest
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.
Promotional material reportedly cited recent protests in France as an inspiration. However, Catalan police believe the violence was coordinated rather than spontaneous, and investigators have ruled out a political or ideological motive.
A study released on Monday by Spanish digital intelligence company Golden Owl, as reported by AA, found indications of Blocus activity in 18 locations spanning 11 regions of Spain. It also flagged planned gatherings for Oct. 31, Nov. 2 and Nov. 30, which falls a day after Spain’s general election.
Germany Expects More Than 100,000 Young Protesters
Germany is also preparing for large-scale demonstrations, with more than 100,000 people expected to take part in youth-led protests in at least 23 cities.
The demonstrations have been organised by the youth alliance Gen Z Regelt, with organizers saying they want to highlight concerns over education, healthcare, climate action and the cost of living. They are also protesting against military conscription and austerity measures.
“Young people are already protesting in France, Belgium, and Spain. The movement has spread to Germany. The first solidarity actions in support of the student protests in France have already taken place,” the group stated, as reported by German outlet The Local.
The organizers’ website showed around 130,000 people had registered their intention to attend as of Oct. 26.
The main demonstrations are planned for Cologne, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Berlin and Munich, with partner groups organising events in another 18 cities.
German political leaders and security authorities have warned that extremists could attempt to exploit the gatherings, although organizers have distanced themselves from violence.
Protests Planned In At Least Nine European Countries
The planned gatherings come amid a wider wave of youth-led activism and unrest across Europe. Spanish fact-checking organisation Maldita.es identified online calls for Halloween demonstrations in 46 cities across nine countries: Spain, Germany, France, Austria, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Portugal.
While some messages encouraged peaceful protests over social issues, others appeared to call for looting and vandalism.
In France, the recent unrest has caused an estimated €1 billion in damage, fuelling calls for parents to be held financially liable for destruction caused by their children, as reported by the Associated Press.
