Greek Man Describes Chaos of Violent Paris Protests: 'Fires and Tear Gas Everywhere'

A Greek man in Paris described days of violent protests, with fires, tear gas, and closed metro stations creating chaos across the city, an experience he said frightened him. The unrest has spread to many areas, not just one location. Sandros Charalambopoulos, visiting for a food exhibition, returned from Charles de Gaulle Airport to find many metro stations shut, forcing a 40-minute walk. He saw burning trash bins and young people treating the situation like a celebration, with smoke and tear gas hindering traffic. The next morning, streets near his Opera district hotel remained blocked by debris, though vehicle traffic was recovering. He noted the scale was unlike protests in Athens, with fires and police interventions occurring throughout Paris, not in a contained area.