France and Spain prepare for potential unrest following Blocus calls

Authorities in France and Spain are bracing for potential violence following social media calls for unrest under the name Blocus. In France, the government has warned of a high-risk Saturday night, deploying up to 70,000 security personnel, including elite police brigades, drones, and armored vehicles, to prevent looting and disturbances.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez expressed concern over messages encouraging individuals to use Halloween costumes to mask their identities during violent demonstrations. This follows recent large-scale student protests and civil unrest in cities such as Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Toulouse, and Nice.

In Spain, cities like Valencia and Barcelona are also on alert. In Valencia, authorities have advised citizens to avoid the city center on Saturday afternoon as businesses prepare to secure their premises. While the individual who initiated the Blocus call has reportedly been detained in Picanya, officials remain concerned about the unpredictable reach of the social media mobilization.