French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on Friday (October 23) that 70,000 security forces would be deployed across France on Saturday (October 24) to keep order, adding there have been calls for looting and violence from the far left.

Speaking at a press conference in Paris, Nunez said the deployment would include local police and gendarmes, as well as mobile forces such as the Republican Security Companies and mobile gendarmerie squadrons.

He said many calls to gather in public spaces were circulating on social media, including from labour organisations, student unions, high school student groups and political parties.

Nunez said far-left and radical left movements had also called on social media for violence and looting, and for public buildings to be targeted.

"We are not talking about a nice, friendly protest," he said, adding that authorities were ready to be "extremely firm" and would not tolerate anything.

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France to deploy 70,000 security forces for Saturday protests

VIDEO SHOWS: SHOPS IN PARIS AND MARSEILLE BARRICADING STORE FRONTS / SOUNDBITES FROM FRENCH INTERIOR MINISTER, LAURENT NUNEZ, ON SATURDAY PROTESTS

SHOWS: MARSEILLE, FRANCE (OCTOBER 23, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF WORKERS BOARDING UP SHOP STORE FRONT

PARIS, FRANCE (OCTOBER 23, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

2. FRENCH INTERIOR MINISTER, LAURENT NUNEZ, ARRIVING FOR PRESS CONFERENCE

3. JOURNALIST TAKING NOTES ON COMPUTER

4. PRESS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS

5. (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH INTERIOR MINISTER, LAURENT NUNEZ, SAYING:

"Tomorrow, 70,000 police officers and gendarmes will be deployed in public spaces, including both local personnel from the various departments and personnel from the mobile forces, the Republican Security Companies, and the mobile gendarmerie squadrons. As for the local forces, these are, of course, officers from the police and gendarmes from the General Directorate of the National Gendarmerie. Across the country, 70,000 personnel will be mobilised to manage these various events."

6. VARIOUS OF WORKERS BOARDING UP STORE FRONT

7. (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH INTERIOR MINISTER, LAURENT NUNEZ, SAYING:

"We're ready for tomorrow to be extremely responsive, extremely firm, and we won't tolerate absolutely anything—nothing at all."

MARSEILLE, FRANCE (OCTOBER 23, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

8. SMASHED WINDOW

9. POSTER READING (French): "Dear customers, our store is temporarily closed. Thank you for your understanding"

10. POSTER READING (French): "Store open" / CUSTOMERS EXITING STORE

11. BOARDED UP STORE

PARIS, FRANCE (OCTOBER 23, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

12. (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH INTERIOR MINISTER, LAURENT NUNEZ, SAYING:

"As for tomorrow’s protests, there are numerous calls to gather in public spaces, many of which are circulating on social media. We note that, in addition to calls from a number of labour organisations, student unions and high school student groups, as well as various political parties. Beyond that, we note that there are numerous calls from the far-left and radical left-wing movements, numerous calls on social media to commit acts of violence, and once again, numerous calls to engage in looting—and, of course, messages posted by rioters."

MARSEILLE, FRANCE (OCTOBER 23, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

13. VARIOUS OF BOARDED UP POLICE STATION

PARIS, FRANCE (OCTOBER 23, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

14. (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH INTERIOR MINISTER, LAURENT NUNEZ, SAYING:

"Look at social media: there have been calls from the far-left and radical left movements to target public buildings. We are not talking about a nice, friendly protest."

MARSEILLE, FRANCE (OCTOBER 23, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

15. VARIOUS OF WORKERS BOARDING UP SHOP STORE FRONT

16. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING IN STREET