Ahead of the Paris Olympics, police clear a migrant camp near City Hall
PARIS (AP) — French police evicted migrants from a makeshift tent-camp next to Paris City Hall early on Tuesday, the latest clear-out of people without homes that aid groups allege is a campaign to beautify the French capital ahead of the Summer Olympics.
In an operation that began before dawn, police woke around 100 teenage boys and young men from West Africa, telling them to pack their tents and belongings.
Paris police said the operation was carried out for security reasons, notably because the camp was near schools.
Paris-region officials told the men — many of them minors and in the process of seeking residency papers — that they could be housed temporarily for three weeks in the Loire-region town of Angers if they wished. A bus was waiting in a nearby street to take them first to a Paris-region transit center.
Only two or three men boarded the bus. Most of the others walked away, carrying their belongings. Some said they feared being left isolated and abandoned in Angers, 250 kilometers (150 miles) southwest of the French capital, once the three weeks of temporary accommodation run out.
Related articles
Not so Cool Britannia! Noel Gallagher gives damning verdict on Keir Starmer
Noel Gallagher has insisted he would still back Tony Blair for PM - as he warned Keir Starmer not to2024-05-21Guideline issued to boost development of private sector
A staff member works on the production line of a semiconductor manufacturer in Binzhou, Shandong pro2024-05-21Xi stresses promoting equipment renewal, trade
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central C2024-05-21Chinese, Dominican Presidents Exchange Congratulations on 20th Anniversary of Diplomatic Ties
Contact Us HomeNewsHighlightACWF NewsSocietyWom2024-05-21Kristin Cavallari, 37, ignores critics of her age
Kristin Cavallari is enjoying a romantic rendezvous with her much younger cowboy lover Mark Estes in2024-05-21Xi says ready to join president of the Republic of the Congo for stronger strategic partnership
Chinese President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulations on Thursday with President Denis Sassou Ngues2024-05-21
atest comment