France prepares for third weekend of protests as rallies spread across Europe

France is preparing for another weekend of demonstrations over living costs and education, with 70,000 police and gendarmes deployed and the Paris march routed along outer boulevards. Protests and related security preparations are also reported in several other European countries.

• The demonstrations began with high school students protesting school conditions and broadened to include anger over living costs.· 1 source
• France deployed 70,000 police and gendarmes; authorities routed the Paris march along outer boulevards after unions and student groups lost a court challenge to the restrictions.· 1 source
• Authorities counted about 550,000 protesters on October 17, when shops were looted, and 410,000 the following Saturday, when rallies were largely peaceful and police made more than 1,300 arrests.· 1 source
• In Germany, organizers of the youth initiative Gen Z regelt said more than 140,000 people had signed up online for protests planned in about 30 cities.· 1 source
• Authorities in Barcelona planned their highest-level alert after calls for gatherings; rioting the previous Saturday led to about 130 arrests, mostly of minors. Police in Italy were also on alert after clashes in Milan, Turin and Bologna.· 1 source