The interior minister said 45,000 officers were deployed across France overnight on Saturday. Even though the police officer involved is under investigation for voluntary homicide and President Emmanuel Macron has condemned the shooting, public anger has spilled onto streets across France. Protests in Paris: how unrest could impact Easter travel plans Restrictions will be decided on a day-to-day basis as governments take the measure of the situation as it continues to unfold. Emirates and Etihad Airways flights to and from Paris are operating as normal at the time of writing. Early Sunday morning, protestors crashed a car into the home of the mayor of the southern Paris suburb LHa-les-Roses then lit it on fire. On Wednesday afternoon, the French president spoke live on national television about the proposed new bill, and said he was willing to accept unpopularity over the pension reform. The UK Foreign Office says that protests could turn violent and/or continue. But Nahel disobeyed and committed several traffic offences, endangering the lives of a pedestrian and a cyclist. Heres what you need to know about how your trip might be affected. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers. Pascal Prache, the top prosecutor in Nanterre, said the officer had not met the legal conditions for the use of the weapon. The interior minister said the officer would be suspended. A 38-year-old police officer has been charged with murder and remanded in custody. What steps can visitors take to stay safe during their stay? It's possible more flight cancellations or delays could occur at airports around the country on Thursday as air traffic controllers are expected to take part in the action. The fatal shooting of Merzouk, of Algerian and Moroccan descent, has brought simmering racial tensions in France to the surface, recalling an incident in 2005 when two teenagers were killed on rail tracks while running from police, setting off more than three weeks of violence in Pariss suburbs. Last nightthe sixth night of unrestwas calmer. Here are a few things to consider about the safety situation for travelers in Paris amid recent civil unrest: Juliette, a student and experienced traveler living in Pariss 10th Arrondissement, spoke to Travel Off Path about the local Parisian perspective on tourism during this turbulent time: This is the sixth night that things have been a bit hectic in the city. The protests, which have pulled in large numbers of young people, have been driven by longstanding grievances in Frances more deprived suburbs, where many people of immigrant origins live, feeling cut off from opportunities and discriminated against by the police. Visitors wait as workers of the culture industry demonstrate outside the Louvre museum. Some roads and paths where streets are narrower are quite difficult to pass, especially in the evening when rubbish is strewn onto the roads and set alight. More than a third of the people arrested last week were minors, and at least two deaths from the violence, including a firefighter last night, have been reported. Tue 28 Mar 2023 10.37 EDT First published on Tue 28 Mar 2023 00.00 EDT Hundreds of thousands of people have taken part in street protests and strikes across France amid fears of violent clashes. This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com, Categories Travel, Travel Advisories, Travel News, 5 Reasons Why Iceland Was My Favorite Destination For Solo Travel This Year. The vast majority of protesting and nearly all of the violent risk is happening after sundown. Here's the latest information about the ongoing pension protests for travelers heading to France. Police in France have arrested more than 700 protesters over the course of a fifth consecutive night of violence across several major cities, including its two largest, the capital Paris and the port city of Marseille. If a visit to one of Frances most famous attractions is on your itinerary, it's worth checking opening hours and closures before you go. Like the United States and some other European nations, France has experienced previous waves of protests over police conduct, particularly against minorities. When are the French air traffic control strikes and will flights be affected? Hayley Skirka / The National. Footage of the shooting, which took place on June 27, was filmed by a local woman and shared on the internet, causing widespread anger and setting off the riots. Police fired tear gas and fought with violent black-clad anarchists in Paris and across France on Thursday as hundreds of thousands of protesters marched against President Emmanuel Macron's plan . The former spokesman for ric Zemmour, a far-right French presidential candidate, set up a fund to support the family of the police officer, which has raised over one million euros ($1.1 million). Police asked people in popular tourist areas in Marseille and Bordeaux to leave the area on Thursday night after fires were set alongside streets, and violent clashes erupted between the police and protesters. Police made 180 arrests during a second night of unrest into Thursday. While Paris has been at the forefront of protests, other cities around Paris are also facing disruption as the national day of strike action on Thursday will take place across the country. Since the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Nahel Merzouk during a police traffic stop on 27 June, Paris and other major cities have seen nightly, violent protests. Before the 2020 global pandemic, Paris saw as many as 30 million tourists annually and was the most popular European destination. The latest alert from the U.S. embassy in Paris related to the rioting was posted on June 29, with the advice that "U.S. citizens should avoid mass gatherings and areas of significant police activity". What Travelers Need to Know About the Ongoing Paris Riots Previous action has led to cancellations for Eurostar and TGV train services and protestors on the platform at Paris Gare de Lyon caused services to be delayed. The killing was the third fatal shooting during traffic stops in France so far in 2023, down from a record 13 last year. On Tuesday, piles of rubbish built up over the last few weeks were set on fire around central Paris. Yes Is it safe to travel to Paris right now? Justine, a French NGO worker living in Pariss Pigalle neighborhood, spoke with Travel Off Path about the situation: Ive been living my normal life, mostly because I dont really live in or go to the areas where the protests are. So far over 1,000 people have been arrested, and France has deployed 40,000 police officers to control the situation. President Macron skipped a European summit this weekend to address the violence and the government has mobilized armored vehicles, riot police and helicopters. Here's our. The UK Foreign Office has warned of disruption and delays, but does not imply that travel plans should be cancelled. AP . Large groups engaged in running battles with heavily armed riot police wearing protective clothing cat and mouse-like encounters involving provocation and response that continued into the early hours of Sunday in some of France's most iconic locations, like the old port of Marseille. French citizens have been voicing opposition to the pension reform since the start of the year. What to Know About Ongoing Protests Another round of demonstrations is planned for June 6. The attractions website confirmed that it would not be open and advised anyone with tickets for the day to check their email. The embassy stated that the demonstrations are probably going to continue and could turn violent. Screen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. Brace for Garbage Piles on the Streets - Bloomberg Pursuits Travel What to Know If You're Traveling to Paris During Protests and Strikes There may be garbage piling up and. I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. Would you like to receive these? No. Is France Safe Right Now? By Saturday night, the Paris police said they had arrested 147 people involved in the protests in France's capital city. A video of the shooting appears to show that there was no immediate danger to them. Paris Protests from a local - Is Paris Safe? - My parisian life The violence quickly spread to nearby areas in the greater Paris region as news of the killing reignited decades-long grievances over racial discrimination in working-class areas. He had dreamed of being a mechanic, his grandmother told a French journalist, and he played on a local rugby team. Tourists are strongly encouraged to remain within the city center. ET. I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. That unrest convulsed France for three weeks and forced then President Jacques Chirac to declare a state of emergency. "No justice, no peace," one young man screamed into an NPR reporter's microphone, as he sprinted away from helmeted police in Marseille who are among the 45,000 officers deployed into public places by authorities. Is Paris Safe to Visit in 2023 & Beyond? Advice & Safety Tips Enter your email address to subscribe to Travel Off Path's latest breaking travel news, straight to your inbox, Travel Off Path is an Off Path Enterprises production, This post may have affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission if you choose to purchase through them. After registering, I can manage my newsletter subscriptions by visiting my Profile Settings page. Is it safe to visit Paris at the moment? For more information about your privacy and protection, please review our full. There may be garbage piling up and transit unpredictability, but you can still have a smooth trip to the City of Light. W ith violent and fiery protests gripping Paris and other cities across France in the wake of the fatal police shooting of a teenage boy, many of the . https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/30/travel/travel-france-unrest.html. An impromptu memorial for Nahel Merzouk, the French teenager who was shot by the police, in Nanterre, France. Separately, Clamart, a town in the suburbs of Paris, declared a night-time curfew over the weekend to maintain the peace. Is it safe to visit Paris right now? In fact, you may be wondering, "is Paris safe to visit right now? There have also been calls by French politicians to declare a state of emergency, which will allow authorities to restrict freedom of movement. Other communities affected by the violence include Bezons, Gennevilliers, Garges-ls-Gonesse, Meudon and Lle-St.-Denis, close to the headquarters of the 2024 Olympics. Tourists wont really be affected.. These have largely been centred around big cities such as Paris, Lille and Marseilles more rural areas have generally been less affected. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. Some 40,000 officers were deployed to curb the trouble, 5,000 in the Paris region. Most long-haul flights havent been impacted by the strikes. Protests have been reported by local media in Nantes, Marseille, Bordeaux and other cities around France. They blocked the doors, preventing visitors from entering and forcing the famous art museum to close. There are also riots in Lille, Toulouse, Marseilles, Pau and Lyons. Bus and tram services here and in Marseille will stop at 9pm tonight and both cities will continue to suspend late-night bus and tram hours until further notice. Metros in other major cities are running normally, but may stop earlier than usual on weekends, at 1:15 am instead of 2:15 am. A prosecutor said the teenager had been driving in a bus lane and, when officers tried to stop him, drove through a red light to get away. There may be some unrest after dark, with fireworks, fires, looting but its never violent towards passersby in the street. The guests who checked in to Rosewoods Hotel de Crillon this week were likely visiting Paris for all the citys enduring draws: The food, the romance, the museums, the fashion. People in most sectors including transport workers, rubbish collection and teachers have been taking part in the strikes. According to reports, on the morning of Tuesday, June 27, police officers tried to stop Nahel Merzouk while he was driving in a bus lane. Heres what to expect. The State Department has not advised against travel to France, but it issued a security alert on Thursday highlighting the violence and urging United States citizens to avoid mass gatherings and areas of significant police activity., Some cities are imposing curfews, the alert said. A vehicle turned upside-down by demonstrators in Paris. Having helped shape the sound of Roc-A-Fella records, he earned a reputation as one of the most sought after pens in the game and later went on to score video games. How safe is Paris for tourists right now? - The Telegraph It also said that bus and trams will operate almost as normal. The unrest immediately revived memories of 2005, when the deaths of two teenagers running from the police set off weeks of violent protests, with hundreds of young people frompoorer suburbs of Paris setting fire to cars and buildings. A wave of violent protests and police mobilizations radiating from Paris have left many travelers wondering if its still safe to visit the popular City of Light. France Travel Advisory What happened to the police officer who fired the shot? The protests are against the government and not aimed at travellers, meaning tourists in Paris should remain safe, so long as they avoid protest activities. What to Know If You're Traveling to Paris During Protests and Strikes And we'll tell you what matters for investors in Europe, giving you insight before trading begins. This post may have affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission if you choose to purchase through them. Monitor your investments 24 hours a day, around the clock from around the globe. An officer has acknowledged firing a lethal shot, the prosecutor said, telling investigators he wanted to prevent another chase, fearing he or another person would be hurt. Please check Foreign Office advice and testing/quarantine requirements in your destination before booking. Is it safe to travel to France during strikes and protests? - The National 'Stop rioting, stop destroying': victim's grandmother calls for calm in hide caption. There is no danger in traveling to France or to Paris. Is Paris Safe for Solo Tourist and Female Right Now? Police shot and killed 17-year-old Nahel Merzouk in Nanterre, a suburb of Paris, on Tuesday, June 27. Should travelers reschedule or cancel planned trips to Paris? Metros are running normally today in Paris, with only the Hotel de Ville station on the line 1 closed (this is the station that opens to Pariss City Hall).