Australians travelling to France are being urged to exercise heightened caution as the country confronts violent protests, widespread disorder and an elevated terrorism threat.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Smartraveller website has advised visitors to the popular European destination to exercise a high degree of caution because of ongoing security concerns.
‘Large-scale protests and demonstrations occurred across France on October 17 and may continue,’ the latest travel advisory states.
‘Authorities may impose public safety measures, including partial and localised curfews, in some locations.
‘Follow the advice of authorities, stay informed and avoid demonstrations and areas with significant police activity.’
The advisory also outlined France’s national system for assessing security threats.
‘France uses a 3-level alert system for responding to threats to security and public safety,’ it said.
‘The current level is ‘vigilance renforcée’ (enhanced vigilance)’.
Australians travelling to France have been warned to take extra care as the country faces an elevated terrorism threat and continuing civil unrest
The Smartraveller warning follows high school walkouts that began on September 21 and grew into nationwide demonstrations, before unrest spread through cities across France.
The first protests focused on severe teacher shortages and overcrowded classrooms. They later expanded to encompass cost-of-living pressures and public-sector job cuts, with violence eventually breaking out at rallies.
An estimated 550,000 people took to the streets across France on October 17. Rioters reportedly torched historic buildings and vehicles while businesses were looted.
One officer was killed and another 1,000 people were injured, while authorities made about 2,700 arrests.
A further wave of protests on Saturday drew 410,000 demonstrators and was monitored by 70,000 police officers and soldiers. More than 1,300 arrests were recorded.
Separately, a gunman reportedly opened fire from a moving vehicle in Paris on Friday, killing a 26-year-old man and injuring five others, according to French authorities.
French President Emmanuel Macron described the shooting as a ‘racist terrorist attack’.
More nationwide rallies have been scheduled for October 31 and November 5.
Smartraveller, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s travel advice website, has told visitors to exercise a high degree of caution in France amid continuing security concerns
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Australian tourists Anne and Pat Boland were among those whose travel plans were affected, after demonstrations prevented them from entering the Louvre in Paris.
Mr Boland told AFP the couple had been determined to steer clear of the unrest.
‘We don’t want to get involved. We want to stand back and get away from them,’ he said.
‘But we don’t want to go against them either,’ Ms Boland added.
Another Aussie tourist, Baran Kaya, said the civil unrest in the French capital had spoiled his trip.
‘[There’s] an eerie feeling about it,’ he told the Herald Sun.
‘The city has been trashed and vandalised but there’s tragic beauty among it all.
‘You come here to see the city, it’s beautiful and you walk around and enjoy it but I guess it was ruined in some way’.
Smartraveller’s warning comes after high school walkouts on September 21 turned into nationwide protests and riots within weeks, especially in Paris, Marseille, and Lyon
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Mr Kaya also said he would now be looking to leave the country.
‘It will probably be good to get out,’ he said.
‘We had issues getting back to our hotel the other night.
‘Police were barricading the whole city and we couldn’t get in and they were protesting everywhere.’
Similar protests have also been occurring in other European nations including Spain, Italy and Belgium.
However, Smartraveller advised Aussies to exercise normal safety precautions in those three countries.