What happened?

After months of unrest against the pension reform, France has once again been swept by a wave of violent riots sparking a ban on demonstrations, travel warnings by multiple countries, and a reignited debate about excessive policing in marginalized communities. 

On 27 June, a 17-year-old boy was shot by a cop in the Parisian suburb of Nanterre. The boy subsequently succumbed to his injuries and died. The shot was fired due to an alleged refusal to comply with orders. Following this fatal incident, sporadic clashes broke out between locals and police, and anger over the death of the teenager grew in the community. 

More than 2,000 police were deployed on estates outside Paris and other big cities on the night of 27 June after unrest led to 31 arrests, 24 slightly injured police officers and about 40 cars torched in clashes in several Parisian suburbs.

What followed?

For a second night, protesters shot fireworks at police and set cars ablaze in Nanterre. Clashes were also reported in the city of Lille, Toulouse, Amiens, Dijon, Essonne, Montreuil and in numerous other locations across Paris. At least 180 arrests were made and around 40,000 officers were mobilised with 5,000 in Paris alone. 

On 29 June, a remembrance march was held in Nanterre during which the French riot police had a face-off with the protesters once again. By night, the riots had spread to Marseille, Lyon, Strasbourg and Pau as well. Clashes were reported at tourist hotspots like Le Vieux Port. Public transportation depots and trams were burnt. Shops along the Rue de Rivoli shopping street were vandalized. 

Impact on Tourists? 

On 30 June, the Interior Minister ordered local authorities to halt bus and tram services from 2100 hours across France. This measure is likely to remain in effect until further notice. 

In Clamart, a curfew was imposed from 2100-0600 hours and was supposed to remain in effect until July 3. Restrictions from 2100-0600 hours were to remain effective in Neuilly-sur-Marne.

45,000 officers from the police forces were deployed across all high-risk localities. Authorities also asked restaurants to close outdoor areas early. 

Police dispersed protesters from the iconic Place de la Concorde amid another demonstration. 

Two concerts at the Stade de France on the outskirts of the capital were cancelled. 

The French fashion house, Celine, also cancelled its show in Paris. 

Organizers of the world’s most-watched sporting event, the Tour de France cycle race, also beefed up security along the route in anticipation of disruptions by protesters. 

Have Tensions Eased? 

The teenager’s funeral was held on 1 June, following which a calmer situation was reported. However, tensions remained high in central Paris and impromptu clashes erupted in the cities of Marseille, Nice and Strasbourg. Tear gas was used to disperse the protesters. In Paris, security was increased at the iconic Champs Elysees Avenue after a protest call was issued. Spot checks were carried out on the street, usually packed with tourists. The area was evacuated after the demonstration began. 

Over the weekend, the protests also spread to neighbouring Switzerland and Belgium. Clashes were reported in the Swiss city of Lausanne and in the Belgian capital of Brussels. 

After five consecutive nights of unrest, authorities reported that on the sixth night, tensions had slightly eased. Arrests totalled more than 2,000, and over 200 police personnel were injured. At least 2,000 vehicles had been torched since the start of the riots. Over 700 shops, supermarkets, restaurants and banks had been ransacked, looted or burned down. 

Can You Still Visit?

The UK warned its citizens travelling to France of possible disruptions to road travel and reduced public transport provision. It also issued travel advice predicting impositions of curfews amid the sporadic riots. On 2 July, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a travel warning for its citizens and advised against non-essential travel to France due to the ongoing unrest. 

While some countries issued travel advisories and warned nationals of the protests and urged them to monitor local news and check in with tour operators; none have advised citizens against travelling to France entirely. Although it is currently unclear how long the protests will continue, CNN reports that most of central Paris remains unaffected. Likewise, the rural and coastal areas that host many tourists also remain safe for travel. 

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