Harsh Measures and Arrests by Leaders Against Widespread Protests in Europe

Against the wave of protests that originated in France and has been spreading across Europe since mid-September, leaders of various countries have begun implementing strict security measures.

In France, President Emmanuel Macron stated that rioters will be held accountable, while authorities deployed 70,000 police officers nationwide. Following clashes in Paris, Lyon, and Lille, more than 1,300 people were detained. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni deployed 500 soldiers to Milan and increased penalties for vandalism. In Belgium, Interior Minister Bernard Quintin announced that about 200 people were detained and stated that extreme-left groups infiltrated student protests. In Albania's capital Tirana, more than 2,500 police officers operated to control demonstrations demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, while 128 people were detained as a result of incidents in Barcelona, in Spain's Catalonia region. In Greece, student and teacher protests are also spreading while authorities monitor the situation.