Hundreds of Thousands March in France Under Heavy Police Presence After Weekend Riots

Summary

Hundreds of thousands of people marched across France on Saturday in a second weekend of mass demonstrations, as the government deployed about 70,000 police, including elite counter-terrorism and hostage-rescue units, to prevent a repeat of the previous weekend's unrest. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said on Friday that there had been social media calls for violence from 'ultra-left' groups. Last weekend's protests, which broke out on the fringes of cost-of-living demonstrations, brought some of the worst street violence in years, injuring police officers and damaging stores. Authorities pledged to do everything in their power to prevent looting, violence and vandalism. RTÉ reported that the heavily reinforced security presence appeared to have averted a repeat of that unrest despite isolated clashes in several cities, and that police arrested 135 people as they deployed. The Financial Times reported that the government had put 20% more officers on the streets. The marches were largely peaceful until the evening, when clashes broke out and police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse some protesters in Marseille and Paris, according to New York Times live coverage.

Timeline

1. New York Times

   23 Oct 2026, 14:18 UTCSource ↗

   The New York Times reports that French officials were trying to avoid a repeat of last weekend's unrest, which injured police officers and damaged stores, by bolstering the police presence before expected new protests.

2. Deutsche Welle

   23 Oct 2026, 22:01 UTCSource ↗

   Deutsche Welle reports that with new protests planned for the weekend, the authorities pledged to do everything in their power to prevent looting, violence and vandalism, and would deploy 70,000 police officers.

3. The Guardian

   24 Oct 2026, 05:46 UTCSource ↗

   The Guardian reports that France would deploy about 70,000 police on Saturday, including elite counter-terrorism and hostage-rescue units, after Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez cited social media calls for violence from 'ultra-left' groups.

4. BBC

   24 Oct 2026, 06:19 UTCSource ↗

   The BBC reports that hundreds of thousands were expected to turn out for a day of protest, with more than 70,000 police officers to be deployed and some protesters possibly defying restrictions.

5. RTÉ

   24 Oct 2026, 09:23 UTCSource ↗

   RTÉ reports that hundreds of thousands marched while a vastly reinforced security presence appeared to have averted a repeat of last weekend's unrest despite isolated clashes in several cities, and that police arrested 135 people as they deployed.

6. Financial Times

   24 Oct 2026, 17:13 UTCSource ↗

   The Financial Times reports that hundreds of thousands protested in the second weekend of mass demonstrations, with the government putting 70,000 officers on the streets to boost security after last weekend's riots.

7. New York Times

   24 Oct 2026, 18:11 UTCSource ↗

   The New York Times live coverage reports that the marches were largely peaceful until evening, when police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse some protesters in Marseille and Paris.