India’s Embassy in Paris urged Indian nationals in France and prospective visitors to avoid protest sites and follow French authorities’ directions, as the Associated Press reported another protest day was expected Saturday.
The Oct. 21 advisory is directed both at nationals already in France and people preparing to travel there. It focuses on places where protests are active, asking recipients to stay clear of demonstrations and crowded gatherings there and to heed French officials’ directions. The Embassy also urged readers to “remain vigilant and exercise due caution.”
Travelers were told to follow local reporting and French government updates. The notice also recommends checking RATP, Paris’ public transit operator, for service information. It lists +33 6 48 34 00 63 for the Embassy of India in Paris and +33 7 43 16 25 59 for the Consulate General of India in Marseille.
The U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) updated its France travel advice Oct. 19. The guidance, current as of Oct. 21, says authorities may introduce local curfews at short notice and advises travelers to check local media and follow authorities’ instructions.
The Associated Press reported that authorities banned demonstrations planned for Thursday, Oct. 22, in Paris, Lyon, Lille and Grenoble. It said another major protest day was expected Saturday, Oct. 24. AP traced the protests to high school students in Créteil, who began protesting last month over staff shortages. Their complaints also focused on school funding and deteriorating facilities; demonstrations later expanded to include cost-of-living concerns.
