French Police Kept 14 CRS Units Off Duty During October 17 Riots

Fourteen of France's 56 CRS riot police companies were kept on standby during the October 17 riots, according to Le Canard Enchaîné, despite Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez claiming all available forces were deployed. The riots, which involved looting and urban violence during cost-of-living protests, prompted President Emmanuel Macron to acknowledge failures in anticipation and intelligence. Police sources say only a quarter of public security forces were mobilized in major provincial cities, with 42 CRS companies deployed and 14 left resting. Authorities are now preparing for October 24 protests in Montpellier, where the prefect plans to expand no-gathering zones and request additional reinforcements beyond the 260 officers deployed previously. The interior ministry reported 60,000 police mobilized on October 17, compared to 89,000 during peak yellow vest protests in December 2018.