Protesters rallied across Europe on Oct. 31 over living costs and strained public services, with authorities expanding security after earlier unrest. Demonstrations reached France, Germany, Spain and Italy, NBC News reported, following a wave of youth-led marches.
France’s Interior Ministry put attendance at about 320,000 nationwide, including 70,000 in Paris. Authorities reported more than 560 arrests by Saturday night. Officials had announced plans to deploy 70,000 police officers after earlier demonstrations brought rioting and damage to shops and public buildings.
The French movement began with students protesting education conditions and living costs after the government opened budget talks for 2027. Unions and the Yellow Vests movement later joined. Although the protests have largely been peaceful, NBC News said videos it verified showed crowds and fires in Marseille.
In Germany, the campaign group Gen Z regelt organized demonstrations in more than 30 cities. Its demands include greater spending on schools, housing and climate protection, alongside opposition to plans to restore compulsory military service.
Some German rallies turned violent. Frankfurt police said rioters threw stones, bottles and Molotov cocktails at officers. Stores were looted, and weapons taken from a gun shop were later recovered, according to the report.
In Italy, tens of thousands marched Friday in Rome and other communities. NBC News journalists witnessed water-cannon use and police charges during otherwise largely peaceful demonstrations. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government also announced that 500 soldiers would support police in Milan through year’s end following earlier looting and attacks on officers.