Police evict hundreds of migrants who had been squatting in Paris theatre

People gather against police eviction of migrants from the Gaite Lyrique theatre after more than three months of their occupation, in Paris, France, March 18, 2025.

PARIS, France, March 18, 2025 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – French police evicted more than 400 migrants on Tuesday who had been squatting inside the Gaite Lyrique theatre in central Paris for more than three month.

Officers began their operation shortly before 6 a.m. (0500 GMT) at the theatre, where hundreds of demonstrators had gathered to protest against the eviction.

Since December 10, the migrants, including many unaccompanied minors, had occupied the concert and arts venue as part of their demands for shelter, leading the Gaite Lyrique management to suspend its operation on December 17.

A large banner on the Gaite Lyrique read: “400 lives at risk, 80 jobs under threat”.

“Shame, shame, shame to authorities who are at war with isolated minors”, demonstrators chanted in front of the theater in solidarity with the migrants, urging local authorities to provide sustainable housing to them rather than force them out.

“Shame, shame, shame to authorities who are at war with isolated minors”, demonstrators chanted in front of the theatre in solidarity with the migrants, urging local authorities to provide sustainable housing to them rather than force them out.

Police briefly used tear gas at the start of their operations, but overall the evacuation proceeded without any major incidents or clashes.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo told France Inter radio on Tuesday that the evacuation had to be done, and the emergency housing had been offered to the migrants.