More than 50 arrested after fire breaks out at Paris train station ahead of concert
A large fire broke out at a Paris train station Friday at the same time police responded to several incidents at a nearby concert.
The Gare de Lyon train station was evacuated, according to the BBC. police say. Footage showed scooters and other vehicles on fire.
Manifestation aux abords de la gare de Lyon... pic.twitter.com/Zm3kWDoNQk
— berenger cernon (@slappy_w) February 28, 2020
Police said 54 people were arrested after protesters appeared to block firefighters’ efforts to reach the blaze. Earlier in the day, protesters had called for the disruption of Congolese singer Fally Ipupa’s performance at the nearby Bercy venue.
#Bercy #ManifestationInterdite
— Préfecture de Police (@prefpolice) February 28, 2020
➡️ 54 interpellations à 22h.
Ils empêchent les #pompiers d’éteindre les #incendie #GareDeLyon #casseur @Qofficiel pic.twitter.com/BIF4toqWFK
— joel belafa (@jbelafa) February 28, 2020
A large plume of smoke was visible above the station, and smoke was also seen inside the Gare de Lyon metro and suburban rail stations.
Police called the protesters’ actions “scandalous.”
The firefighters are still on site. The fire is not yet under control. Activists against the arrival of Congolese singer Fally Ipupa burned trash cans, cars and scooters.
— (@francebleuparis)Feb 28 2020
Police said the concert was taking place in a “particularly tense political context between supporters and opponents” of the Congolese government.
With the fire near the Gare de Lyon, it's a mess in the streets. Here, in front of the Austerlitz station. Firefighters blocked in traffic. #Paris #Lyon station #fire
— (@CoureurMinimal)Feb 28 2020
Gare de Lyon with the A there's no one left and it smelled of smoke ...
— (@deadlyaIIen)Feb 28 2020
PARIS - Tension still ongoing between opponents of the Fally Ipupa concert and the police. Large deployment of police. Tear gas and burned vehicles.
— (@ClementLanot)Feb 28 2020
