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Clashes, tear gas as police evict 277 asylum seekers from Paris high school (PHOTOS, VIDEOS) | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Police in Paris have deployed tear gas against demonstrators and refugees who protested the authorities’ decision to evict at least 277 asylum seekers who had been living in a high school under renovation for about two weeks. | Police in Paris have deployed tear gas against demonstrators and refugees who protested the authorities’ decision to evict at least 277 asylum seekers who had been living in a high school under renovation for about two weeks. |
The demonstrators, some of them wearing masks and hoods, formed a human chain to prevent police officers from entering the building of Jean Jaurès School, French media reported. | The demonstrators, some of them wearing masks and hoods, formed a human chain to prevent police officers from entering the building of Jean Jaurès School, French media reported. |
“Everyone hates the police,” and “Solidarity with Refugees,” protesters chanted, before starting to throw objects at police, an AFP correspondent at the scene said. | “Everyone hates the police,” and “Solidarity with Refugees,” protesters chanted, before starting to throw objects at police, an AFP correspondent at the scene said. |
Police, in turn, deployed tear gas against the demonstrators. When they finally managed to enter the school, they faced a barricade made of chairs and tables piled up to block them. | Police, in turn, deployed tear gas against the demonstrators. When they finally managed to enter the school, they faced a barricade made of chairs and tables piled up to block them. |
"This morning the police gassed us and pushed us out of the way. At midnight we built a barrier of tables and chairs, but they moved it all out of the way," Emmanuel, a Ghanaian refugee who resided in the school, told AFP. | "This morning the police gassed us and pushed us out of the way. At midnight we built a barrier of tables and chairs, but they moved it all out of the way," Emmanuel, a Ghanaian refugee who resided in the school, told AFP. |
“It's better here than being on the street,” he said. "I don't know where they want to take us.” | “It's better here than being on the street,” he said. "I don't know where they want to take us.” |
Bruno, a local resident, told Le Figaro that some of the protesters “were brutally gassed, despite their peaceful protest and no provocations.” | Bruno, a local resident, told Le Figaro that some of the protesters “were brutally gassed, despite their peaceful protest and no provocations.” |
In the end, police managed to evict all 277 refugees on several buses. Some of the protesters reportedly were trying to block the buses to prevent refugees from entering them. | In the end, police managed to evict all 277 refugees on several buses. Some of the protesters reportedly were trying to block the buses to prevent refugees from entering them. |
“The high school, which is governed by the Regional Council, is not intended to be a shelter for migrants or foreigners,” said Michel Cadot of the Paris Police Prefecture. | |
Among those evacuated there are 74 people (including 20 women and 6 children) who were taken to refugee centers, Paris Police Prefecture said. More than 200 others have been “taken to examine their administrative status,” it added. | Among those evacuated there are 74 people (including 20 women and 6 children) who were taken to refugee centers, Paris Police Prefecture said. More than 200 others have been “taken to examine their administrative status,” it added. |
The refugees started occupying the school on April 21-22. Most of them were from Afghanistan, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. There were also people from Syria. | The refugees started occupying the school on April 21-22. Most of them were from Afghanistan, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. There were also people from Syria. |
“There are a lot of women among the migrants in the school, including two who are pregnant,” Clementine Verschave, from a migrant charity group, told AFP. | “There are a lot of women among the migrants in the school, including two who are pregnant,” Clementine Verschave, from a migrant charity group, told AFP. |
According to Eric Coquerel, from the Left Party, who took part in the protest, the police use of force was “unjustified.” | According to Eric Coquerel, from the Left Party, who took part in the protest, the police use of force was “unjustified.” |
"This school is empty and has no purpose. These people are better off here than in the road," he said. | "This school is empty and has no purpose. These people are better off here than in the road," he said. |
READ MORE: Huge migrant camp evacuated from under Stalingrad metro station in Paris (PHOTOS) | READ MORE: Huge migrant camp evacuated from under Stalingrad metro station in Paris (PHOTOS) |
The eviction in Jean Jaurès School is not the first official action taken by French authorities against asylum seekers. On Monday a huge migrant camp under the Stalingrad metro in Paris was evacuated. The camp with hundreds of asylum seekers earlier saw fierce battles between refugees. | The eviction in Jean Jaurès School is not the first official action taken by French authorities against asylum seekers. On Monday a huge migrant camp under the Stalingrad metro in Paris was evacuated. The camp with hundreds of asylum seekers earlier saw fierce battles between refugees. |
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