France deploys 70,000 police officers to prepare for new wave of protests on Halloween

The French government is deploying 70,000 police officers to cities across the country as authorities expect a third week of intense anti-government protests to resume Saturday.

Demonstrators objecting to rising costs and President Emmanuel Macron's government have engaged in looting and damaging property, prompting the law enforcement surge, according to officials.

"Everyone is on deck to ensure an extremely firm response to any trouble," Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said at a news conference early in the week.