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France fears new street violence at Halloween protests
Shops and businesses in Paris and other French cities on Friday boarded up windows amid fears of fresh street violence during a third consecutive weekend of protests -- this time clashing with Halloween.
Authorities have said face-covering masks will not be allowed at the demonstrations that come in an increasingly febrile political climate, with presidential elections just six months away and far-right leader Marine Le Pen leading opinion polls.
President Emmanuel Macron this week said it was "not normal" for France to be in such a state of "turmoil" so close to a presidential election.
Around 70,000 security personnel will again be deployed on Saturday as authorities seek to prevent a repeat of October 17 unrest when thousands of businesses were damaged or looted.
More than 40 Paris metro stations will be closed and tram services will also be disrupted.
An aide to Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said street violence on a scale "comparable" to the unrest two weeks ago was expected. Images of clashes, looted shops and public buildings set ablaze were broadcast around the world.
"There are concerns about acts of vandalism and attempted looting," the aide said.
A police source pointed to "considerable nervousness" among authorities.
"There is no reason to think this will go smoothly," the source said.
Alain Di Crescenzo, president of France's chamber of commerce, said businesses were worried.
"Shopkeepers can't wait for Saturday to be over," Di Crescenzo told broadcaster France Inter.
"The information we have is that Halloween is not helping matters, because we're going to have people wearing masks."
- 'Night of darkness' -
Nunez on Thursday warned of a "very high risk of public disorder", saying demonstrations would be allowed, but not in city centres.
The Paris police prefecture tried to prevent demonstrators from marching between Bastille and Nation in eastern Paris, but a court overturned the ban.
The interior minister said authorities had detected social media calls for Halloween gatherings on Saturday evening urging protesters to spark a "revolution".
Some social media posts called on people to dress up and gather for a "night of darkness".
Nunez warned that protesters would not be allowed to wear masks concealing their faces.
On Friday morning, customers crowded into a costume shop in Paris, but manager Didier Jarsale said it was not his job to "ask every customer what they intend to do with what they buy."
"We're not here to act as police officers," he said.
- Right to demonstrate -
Authorities have acknowledged security and intelligence failures that enabled the clashes, looting and vandalism that erupted on October 17. Since then, they have moved to reassert control by restricting demonstrations and imposing curfews in several cities.
A night curfew will be imposed in the Republique and Chatelet-Les Halles neighborhoods of Paris from 11:00 pm to 6:00 am on Saturday and Sunday.
More than 1,000 Paris city workers will be mobilised over the weekend to clean up public spaces, the mayor's office said.
The protest movement, which brings together Yellow Vest activists, trade unions, and students, initially focused on the cost of living, inequality, and deteriorating learning conditions.
But following the security clampdown, the movement broadened its demands to include greater protection for civil liberties and the right to protest.
The unrest followed weeks of demonstrations by high school students campaigning for better learning conditions.
On top of the cost-of-living protests, France was last week shaken by a shooting that killed one person and wounded seven outside Paris. Most of the victims were from foreign backgrounds. The attack has triggered rallies against racism.
(S.Perez--TAG)
