France protests: More violence feared amid renewed demonstrations

Skip next section What you need to know

What you need to know

• Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to take to France's streets to protest over the rising cost of living, declining social services and inequality
• Authorities are looking to prevent a repeat of the violence that took place at similar protests a week ago with heightened security and bans
• President Emmanuel Macron has called a shooting near Paris in which one person died and five were injured 'a racist terrorist attack'
• Protests are also expected in eight Italian cities, including Rome and Milan

Follow below for the latest on the protests and unrest in France and other parts of Europe on Saturday, October 24, 2026:

Skip next section France puts high security in place for fresh protests

October 24, 2026

France puts high security in place for fresh protests

French authorities say they will be deploying some 70,000 police on Saturday amid renewed protests as they look to prevent a repeat of the violence that marred mass nationwide demonstrations over social inequality a week ago.

Announcing the deployment, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez warned at a news conference in Paris that calls for violence and looting were circulating on social media.

Several restrictions on protests have been imposed across the country, including bans on a union-led march on one route in the capital, Paris, that organizers say they will disregard, citing safety concerns about a proposed alternative.

Leading museums in Paris, including the Louvre, will also remained closed.

The protests come a critical political moment for France, with elections due in six months to elect a successor to President Emmanual Macron. 

Polls have shown far-right candidate Marine Le Pen as the frontrunner and indicated that the latest events might have shored up her popularity.

You can read more about the security precautions and background to the protests in France in this article:France to deploy 70,000 police officers ahead of protests

https://p.dw.com/p/5OcAH

Skip next section Macron calls shooting near Paris a 'racist terrorist attack'

October 24, 2026

Macron calls shooting near Paris a 'racist terrorist attack'

French President Emmanuel Macron has condemned a shooting near Paris on Friday in which one person was killed and five others were injured, including a 12-year-old girl.

Macron called the attack "a turning point," saying it was "a terrorist act that was planned ​to kill our compatriots, our children, based on the color of their skin or their religion."

The victim killed was said by authorities to have been of "African origin," and most of the injured were also from foreign backgrounds.

The shooting is likely to further fuel tensions ahead of protests planned for Saturday, with some far-right politicians blaming immigration for the violence on the sidelines of protests in several French cities on October 17.

You can read more about the attack in this article: France: 1 killed, 4 wounded after shooting near Paris

https://p.dw.com/p/5OcAR

Skip next section Welcome to our coverage

October 24, 2026

Welcome to our coverage

France is bracing for another day of mass protests a week after the country saw some violent rioting on the sidelines of demonstrations against rising inequality, declining public services and a deteriorating education system.

The current wave of protests sweeping the country comes on the heels of largely peaceful demonstrations by high school students over learning conditions.

Some 70,000 police are to be deployed in the capital, Paris, and other cities, while protest bans are in place in several locations.

The protests in France have spilled over into other European countries, with Italy also expecting mass demonstrations on Saturday.

In this blog, we will be keeping you up to date on all the latest protest developments in France and other European countries on Saturday, October 24, and Sunday, October 25.