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.
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.
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.”
Police said the concert was taking place in a “particularly tense political context between supporters and opponents” of the Congolese government.
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