France deploys 70,000 officers as protests spread across Europe

Counter-protests converge on National Rally congress as police reroute marches in Paris

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published24 October 2026

Read Time3 min

France deployed 70,000 officers around the country on Saturday as protests began, with further demonstrations expected in Italy, Spain, Austria, Portugal, Albania and Ireland. In Paris, police pushed the main union march back to an afternoon start, moved it away from Bastille and closed 24 metro stations, while Marine Le Pen's National Rally held its congress and launched her presidential campaign in Orléans.

Paris police ordered the original union march route from Bastille to Nation changed, saying the procession presented "serious risks of public disorder, particularly due to the high density of businesses similar to those targeted during the 17-18 October weekend." Demonstrators can now march from Porte de Vincennes and Porte d'Italie between 1pm and 7pm. Organisers' legal challenge to the change failed. The leading trade union was granted permission for its march, while Yellow Vest demonstrators were denied. Courts overturned protest bans covering the Bouches-du-Rhône region around Marseille and the city of Limoges, where its centuries-old city hall was set on fire last week. Bans remain in place for unauthorised demonstrations in Paris, Lille, Strasbourg, Mulhouse, Grenoble, Toulouse and Amiens.

Outside the National Rally congress in Orléans, several leftwing political leaders joined demonstrations against "racism, fascism and imperialism." Bally Bagayoko, the mayor of Saint-Denis, said he had come to stand up against racism and the hate speech spread by the right and referenced a "close link" between such rhetoric and Friday's drive-by shooting outside Paris. Sophie Binet, general secretary of the CGT union, told protesters the violence in Trappes "does not come from nowhere, it comes from speeches that convey racism, anti-Semitism, violence, which essentially come from the speeches of the far right." Socialist party leader Olivier Faure marched behind an "All united against fascism" banner.

The shooting killed a 26-year-old martial arts star and injured five people, including a 12-year-old girl shot eight times, when a gunman pointed an automatic weapon from his car. The government described it as a "racist, terrorist attack," and President Emmanuel Macron said the victims were targeted because of their skin colour.

In Italy, police raided 150 homes in Milan and other cities, including homes of 51 minors, on suspicion they intended to cause trouble at Saturday protests organised by the 17 October Movement in Milan, Turin, Rome, Bologna, Naples and other towns. The demonstrations target issues from the high cost of living and underfunding in schools to support for Palestine. After last weekend's protests turned violent in Milan, where hooded youths vandalised and looted shops, stores in several cities covered their windows with plywood.

Jesse, a 40-year-old charity worker from the north of Paris, joined the march to support school students. "I'm so angry," she said. "I'm here to support schoolchildren's demands for better conditions. I'm so proud of them and we have to stand together." She added: "But at times it really does feel like a war."

Analysis

Why This Matters

France's nationwide police deployment shows how much tension has built after a weekend of vandalism and looting, and after Friday's shooting outside Paris.
The protests are political as well as social, running alongside the National Rally congress and Marine Le Pen's presidential campaign launch, with demonstrators drawing a direct link between far-right rhetoric and violence.
With city centres closed and courts overturning bans, the day is testing how authorities balance public order against the right to protest.

Background

Saturday's protests follow a weekend of unrest in several European countries. In France, authorities responded by restricting gatherings, limiting march routes and imposing blanket bans in some cities, while Limoges' city hall was set on fire last week. In Italy, protests last weekend escalated into violence, especially in Milan, where hooded youths vandalised and looted shops. The National Rally is holding its congress this weekend while Marine Le Pen launches her presidential campaign.

Key Perspectives

Paris police: said in their decree that the original route carried "serious risks of public disorder, particularly due to the high density of businesses similar to those targeted during the 17-18 October weekend," and ordered it changed.
Bally Bagayoko, mayor of Saint-Denis: said he was in Orléans "to stand up against racism and the hate speech spread by the right," and drew a "close link" between such rhetoric and the drive-by shooting.
Sophie Binet, CGT general secretary: said the violence in Trappes "does not come from nowhere, it comes from speeches that convey racism, anti-Semitism, violence, which essentially come from the speeches of the far right."
Jesse, a protester in Paris: said she was "so angry" and marching to support schoolchildren's demands, adding that "at times it really does feel like a war."

What to Watch

Whether the rerouted Paris march, now starting at 2pm from Porte de Vincennes and Porte d'Italie, passes off without incidents.
Whether courts follow the Marseille and Limoges rulings and overturn other protest bans, and how authorities respond.
Whether Italian demonstrations repeat last weekend's violence despite the police raids and boarded-up shops.

Sources

Protests begin across France, with shops, businesses and tourist sites closed – Europe live · The Guardian

Checked

6 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 5 supported.

Show each claim

Partly supportedFrance deployed 70,000 officers around the country.World news | The Guardian: “They’ve increased policing 20%, mobilising 70,000 police officers and soldiers to the streets, including both elite units and trainee officers.”
SupportedProtests were taking place across Europe.World news | The Guardian: “Protests are also being held in Italy, Spain, Austria, Portugal, Albania and Ireland today.”
SupportedThe shooting killed one person and injured five others, including a 12-year-old girl shot eight times.World news | The Guardian: “A 26-year-old, well-respected martial arts star from a club outside Paris was killed and five other people were injured, including a 12-year-old girl shot eight times”
SupportedSophie Binet said the violence in Trappes came from speeches conveying racism, anti-Semitism and violence, essentially from the far right.World news | The Guardian: “This violence does not come from nowhere, it comes from speeches that convey racism, anti-Semitism, violence, which essentially come from the speeches of the far right”
SupportedItalian police raided 150 homes, including homes of 51 minors, over suspicions that residents intended to cause trouble at the demonstrations.World news | The Guardian: “Police in Italy have raided 150 homes in Milan and other cities as the country braces for more protests on Saturday afternoon. The searches were conducted in the homes of those, including 51 minors, suspected of intending to cause trouble during the demonstrations.”
SupportedJesse said, “But at times it really does feel like a war.”World news | The Guardian: “But at times it really does feel like a war… This is the first time I’ve prepared so carefully for a peaceful march, wearing old clothes in case they are gassed or torn.”

Correction

24 October 2026An earlier version of this story presented a paraphrase of Bally Bagayoko's remarks about racism and hate speech as a direct quotation. The source reported those remarks in indirect speech.