French minister warns of 'very high' violence risk as country braces for Halloween protests

France's interior minister on Thursday warned of a "very high risk of public disorder" and announced the deployment of around 70,000 police officers for a new wave of protests this weekend. France has been rocked by widespread anger over the rising cost of living and inequality, with nationwide demonstrations on October 17 degenerating into some of the country's worst rioting in years. The Yellow Vest movement and student unions have called for a new day of protests on Saturday. The demonstrations come in an increasingly tense political climate, with presidential elections six months away and far-right leader Marine Le Pen leading opinion polls. Read moreFrench far-right leader Le Pen seeks to leverage unrest in presidential campaign kick-off "The day of October 31 presents a very high risk of public disorder," Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez told reporters. Around 70,000 police officers and gendarmes will be deployed across France, matching the number mobilised a week ago, he said. The security measures introduced last week to protect shops will be strengthened, Nuñez added. Demonstrations will be allowed, but "not in city centres, where there is a risk of public disorder", he sai...