Demonstrations of October 31: a “very high” risk of urban violence, warns Laurent Nuñez

A very high risk of urban violence and excesses, with the “Halloween party” as the pretext. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez sent a telegram to the prefects this Thursday, October 29, calling on them to be vigilant for the day of October 31. On this third consecutive Saturday of calls for demonstrations throughout France, calls were made on social networks to disrupt the processions, according to a document that BFMTV was able to consult, and that Le Figaro was able to verify with a source at the Ministry of the Interior.

“Multiple calls for gatherings in city centers, in all public squares, have been spotted on social networks, under the pretext of the Halloween party,” explains Laurent Nuñez. “Analysis of the infographics of these calls leaves no doubt about the intentions of their authors to commit new abuses. Also, from early evening until late at night, the risk of urban violence is very high.”

“Powerful, responsive and agile” device

Also, he asks to pay “particular attention to the calls for gatherings in all public places from 8 p.m. which are increasing, and to the risks of wild processions which result from this”. The minister also encouraged the prefects to provide “a robust operational system for law enforcement which must be powerful, responsive and agile”. In order to “strengthen the available staff” for “this sensitive day”, the minister announces having “validated the measures to suspend rest for police officers and gendarmes wherever necessary in order to increase the availability rate to 75%”.

Furthermore, the Minister of the Interior recommends flow controls before gatherings, particularly in “stations and transport routes in order to allow the detection of materials which will be used to carry out violence (hoods, masks, fireworks, mortars, etc.) or the identification of people who are not authorized to participate in these demonstrations”. The prefects will also be able to rely on “all administrative police measures”, such as bans on demonstrations in the city center, the authorization of processions in peripheral sectors, bans on gatherings and curfews.