---
title: "France on Halloween: 70,000 Law Enforcement Officers, Closed Metro Stations, and Boarded-Up Storefronts Amid Third Wave of Protests"
description: "As France faces a third weekend of protests coinciding with Halloween, authorities have deployed 70,000 security personnel, closed 40 metro stations in Paris, and businesses have boarded up storefronts. The Supreme Court has banned the march route from Bastille to Nation."
date: 2026-10-31T13:32:06.603Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/france-halloween-70000-security-boarded-storefronts
tags: [france, protests, halloween, paris, security, civil-unrest, yellow-vests]
author: "Marina Slivenko"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# France on Halloween: 70,000 Law Enforcement Officers, Closed Metro Stations, and Boarded-Up Storefronts Amid Third Wave of Protests

![Workers boarding up a storefront with wooden panels ahead of Halloween protests in France](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/31/frantsiya-hellouin-70-tysyach-silovikov-zabitye-vit/frantsiya-hellouin-70-tysyach-silovikov-zabitye-vit-1.webp)

## Key Points

- France marks its third consecutive weekend of street protests overlapping with Halloween on October 31, 2026
- Authorities have deployed about 70,000 security personnel; over 40 metro stations are closed in Paris
- France's Supreme Court overturned the permit for the protest march from Place de la Bastille to Place de la Nation
- The protest movement brings together yellow vests, trade unions, and students, with demands expanding to civil liberties
- Retail chains are proactively reinforcing shop windows with wooden panels amid severe concern from the business community

On October 31, 2026, France entered its third consecutive weekend where street protests coincided with Halloween. According to AFP, national authorities deployed around 70,000 security personnel—a force comparable to the numbers mobilized a week earlier. In Paris, more than 40 metro stations were closed, and tram services experienced severe disruptions. Across the capital and other cities, retail chains preemptively reinforced their storefronts with wooden panels and OSB boards, turning shop facades into makeshift fortresses.

### The Third Wave: From 'Yellow Vests' to Demands for Civil Liberties

This year, the protest movement has united 'yellow vest' activists, labor unions, and student groups. Initially, the marches were directed against the rising cost of living, social injustice, and deteriorating conditions in the education system. However, following aggressive crackdowns by security forces and severe injuries sustained by several protesters, the movement expanded its demands: the protection of civil liberties and the right to peaceful assembly took center stage. An aide to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez stated that authorities expect public disorder on a scale comparable to the riots from two weeks ago, when footage of clashes, looting, and arson circled the globe.

### Supreme Court Bans the Bastille-to-Nation Route

On the same day, October 31, France's Supreme Court overturned a ruling by a Paris court that had previously authorized organizers to hold a protest march from the Place de la Bastille to the Place de la Nation in the heart of the capital. The Interior Minister warned of a high risk of public disturbance and announced that marches would be permitted, but not in the central districts of cities. Consequently, the legal framework for the demonstrations narrowed significantly mere hours before the start of the weekend.

### Business and Police: 'Hoping Saturday Passes Quickly'

Police representatives reported that a tense atmosphere prevails within security structures, with no reason to believe the weekend will pass smoothly. Alain Di Crescenzo, president of France's Chamber of Commerce, stated that business owners are deeply concerned and simply hoping Saturday passes quickly. According to him, the coincidence of the protests with Halloween further complicates the situation due to the massive presence of people wearing masks, which makes identifying participants difficult and increases the risk of incidents.

### Context: What Lies Behind the Third Wave

Three consecutive weekends of protests, which began about three weeks ago, have become one of the largest episodes of civil unrest in France in recent years. The overlap with Halloween—a day when city streets are filled with people in costumes and masks—creates a uniquely challenging environment for law enforcement agencies. On one hand, authorities are obligated to guarantee the right to peaceful protest; on the other hand, they must prevent a repetition of the scenes that sparked international outrage two weeks ago. The Supreme Court's decision to cancel the central route essentially served as the final legal barrier before protesters take to the streets on the night of October 31 into November 1.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Франция рискует столкнуться с протестами на Хэллоуин.](https://www.vietnam.vn/ru/phap-dung-truoc-nguy-co-bieu-tinh-trong-ngay-le-halloween) - Primary source AFP. Contains all key facts: 70,000 security personnel, 40+ metro stations, quotes from Nuñez's aide and Di Crescenzo, the Supreme Court's ruling to cancel the Bastille-Nation route, and the composition of the protest movement. Sole source with no discrepancies.

## FAQ

### How many security personnel were deployed in France on October 31, 2026?

According to AFP, authorities deployed approximately 70,000 security personnel—the same number as the previous week.

### What transport restrictions have been introduced in Paris?

More than 40 metro stations have been closed, and tram services have been severely disrupted.

### What did the French Supreme Court rule on October 31?

The Supreme Court overturned a Paris court ruling that had permitted organizers a protest route from Place de la Bastille to Place de la Nation in central Paris.

### Who is participating in this year's protest movement?

The movement unites yellow vest activists, labor unions, and students. Demands have expanded from protesting the cost of living to defending civil liberties and the right to protest.

### Why does Halloween complicate the situation?

According to France Chamber of Commerce President Alain Di Crescenzo, the massive presence of people wearing masks and costumes makes it difficult to identify participants and raises the risk of incidents.