French territorial intelligence officials estimate 500,000 to 700,000 people could demonstrate in regions Thursday, with a separate Paris forecast of 40,000 to 80,000, RTL reported Wednesday.
The regional figure came from a Nov. 3 assessment by France's Direction nationale du renseignement territorial (DNRT), which RTL said it reviewed. The Direction du renseignement de la préfecture de police de Paris (DRPP) made the separate estimate, RTL reported.
The DNRT assessment warned of possible violence and looting during the demonstrations, with a heightened risk of public-order trouble in city centers. The document linked the level of risk to how the marches developed and the security response.
RTL said the note traced the expanding mobilization from union appeals to support from young people involved in recent high school protests. For comparison, an earlier projection for the Oct. 17 demonstrations was about 210,000; the eventual estimate reached 500,000 to 800,000, the outlet reported.
The Nov. 5 demonstrations are part of the nationwide mobilization EconoTimes previously covered.
