Tear gas filled the air as French police raided a Paris theatre at dawn, evicting over 400 migrants who had been squatting there for months. Protesters shouted "shame" as riot police moved in, sparking clashes. The migrants, mostly West Africans, say they have nowhere else to go.
French police raided a theatre in central Paris at dawn on Tuesday, briefly using tear gas to evict more than 400 migrants who had been squatting there for months, as hundreds of demonstrators protested their removal.
The migrants, including many unaccompanied minors, had occupied the leftist Gaite Lyrique theatre, a concert and arts venue, since December 10, in a demand for shelter.
Police in riot gear approached the theatre amid protests from hundreds of demonstrators who shouted "shame, shame" as they shielded their faces from clouds of tear gas.
Paris police chief Laurent Nunez told BFM TV there were 46 arrests and nine people were slightly injured during the operation, which began shortly before 6 a.m. (0500 GMT)
"At this stage, this was the thing to do because the situation was becoming complicated, tense and dangerous inside," Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo told France Inter radio on Tuesday. Emergency housing had been offered to the migrants, she added.
"We had no place to go, we were sleeping outside and we needed a roof so that we don't have to spend the night outdoors, because this winter has been really cold. So we had no choice but to occupy the Gaite Lyrique," said Dialo Aimmedou, a migrant from Guinea who said he was 16.
He said he arrived in France last October. Aimmedou was one of hundreds of largely West African migrants who attended a pro-refugee conference at the cultural centre last December and never left.
"We heard about France, we thought everything was going well here. We thought that nobody was forced to sleep outdoors, but since we came ... we are suffering very much here," he added.
Critics allege that many of those squatting the venue are older than they say they are, and are only claiming to be minors to seek broader protections.
Their occupation posed a complex problem for the theatre. On December 17, its management suspended operations. A large banner, hanging off the theatre on Tuesday morning, read: "400 lives at risk, 80 jobs under threat."
In a statement last month, the theatre called for urgent help from authorities to rehouse the migrants due to a rapid deterioration of conditions inside that posed a threat to its staff, installations and the migrants themselves.
Paris police said the operation aimed to offer the migrants "appropriate care solutions and administrative processing" but added that only six people accepted their assistance.
The police also said certain activist groups urged those in the theatre not to accept their help.
Dialo Abdelrahman, a migrant from Guinea, who gave his age as 16, said he was shocked to see such treatment from French authorities.
The United Arab Emirates has set a minimum age of 15 for social media use, becoming the first Arab country to introduce such a restriction as governme...
Iran's Revolutionary Guards created secret cells inside Iraq to launch attacks on Gulf states that host American troops, bypassing established militia...
Nearly 300 students and staff were evacuated after a fire broke out at an elementary school in northern Tokyo on Friday morning, leaving 10 people wit...
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 19 June, covering the latest developments you need to know....
Islamic Society of Milwaukee President Salah Sarsour, a Palestinian American detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in March, was rel...
The United Arab Emirates has set a minimum age of 15 for social media use, becoming the first Arab country to introduce such a restriction as governments worldwide seek to address growing concerns over the impact of online platforms on children.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards created secret cells inside Iraq to launch attacks on Gulf states that host American troops, bypassing established militia networks in an apparent effort to avoid detection, according to a Reuters investigation.
Labour mayor Andy Burnham cleared a path to ousting British Prime Minister Keir Starmer after winning a parliamentary seat in northern England on Friday in what could be most consequential local election in more than six decades.
World Cup action delivered impressive wins and late drama on 18-19 June. Mexico booked their place in the knockout stage as Group A winners, while Jonathan David's hat-trick inspired Canada to a 6-0 thrashing of Qatar.
Donald Trump has said the U.S. will resume bombing Iran if Tehran doesn't "behave," at the sidelines of the G7 summit in France. Earlier, the U.S. President criticised Israel for its tactics against Hezbollah, saying it was unnecessary to bomb entire apartment buildings to tackle militants.
U.S. President Donald Trump sought a deal with Iran "out of deperation," Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has said, in a statement on social media. Khamenei added that he himself "held a different view," to Trump, but allowed the agreement after receiving assurances from Iran's President.
Britain has announced an additional £8 million ($11 million) to help Pakistan combat illegal migration, human trafficking and organised crime, while praising Islamabad's role in diplomacy that helped secure the recent U.S.-Iran agreement.
Planned U.S.-Iran talks in Switzerland on Friday will no longer take place after Vice President JD Vance withdrew from a scheduled trip to meet Iranian negotiators, Swiss authorities said.
Caleb Yirenkyi’s stoppage-time goal secured a 1-0 win for Ghana over Panama as World Cup action delivered a mix of late drama and key results. Colombia and England also began their campaigns with victories, while DR Congo held Portugal in a historic 1-1 draw and Austria beat Jordan 3-1.
Nearly 300 students and staff were evacuated after a fire broke out at an elementary school in northern Tokyo on Friday morning, leaving 10 people with minor injuries, according to Japanese media.
The United Arab Emirates has set a minimum age of 15 for social media use, becoming the first Arab country to introduce such a restriction as governments worldwide seek to address growing concerns over the impact of online platforms on children.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 19 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Islamic Society of Milwaukee President Salah Sarsour, a Palestinian American detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in March, was released from detention on Thursday after an order by a federal judge.
Labour mayor Andy Burnham cleared a path to ousting British Prime Minister Keir Starmer after winning a parliamentary seat in northern England on Friday in what could be most consequential local election in more than six decades.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment