British holidaymakers travelling to France have been warned they could face disruption after four nights of unrest in reaction to the police killing of a 17-year-old boy of Algerian and Moroccan descent.
The Foreign Office has changed its travel advice, warning of the potential for disruption to travel, curfews and that the “location and timing of riots are unpredictable”.
“Since 27 June, riots have taken place across France. Many have turned violent. Shops, public buildings and parked cars have been targeted. There may be disruptions to road travel and local transport provision may be reduced,” the updated advice said.
“Some local authorities may impose curfews. Locations and timing of riots are unpredictable. You should monitor the media, avoid areas where riots are taking place, check the latest advice with operators when travelling and follow the advice of the authorities.”
The teenager, identified as Nahel M, was shot by police on Tuesday during a traffic stop in a Paris suburb, in an incident that was captured on video. It was the third fatal shooting by police during traffic stops in France this year.
Since then, protests have spread rapidly across the country amid longstanding complaints of police violence and racism. The president, Emmanuel Macron, is yet to declare a state of emergency, but on Friday the interior minister, Gérald Darmanin, ordered a nationwide night-time shutdown of all public buses and trams.
Across the country, 45,000 police officers were deployed on Friday as rioting continued for a fourth night, including in Marseille and Lyon. A total of 994 people were arrested and 2,560 fires on public roads were recorded.
The British government said French authorities had banned a rally by groups opposed to the Iranian government scheduled to take place on Saturday in Paris due to security risks but that connected events could still go ahead, including in the suburb of Auvers-sur-Oise.
“A demonstration by the same group in Paris in June 2018 was the target of an attempted bomb attack,” it said. “British nationals should reconsider any plans to attend such meetings, and if you do, be aware of your surroundings at all times, and move away quickly from disturbances.”
It also advised that it was “more important than ever to get travel insurance and check it provides sufficient cover”.
Each year, millions of Britons visit France, especially in the summer months when it is a popular holiday destination.
