Protesters block Louvre museum entrance after Paris riots

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 19 Oct, 15:13 · Archive

Demonstrators have blocked the entrance to Paris's Louvre museum following violent weekend protests over the cost of living.

Demonstrators blocked the entrance to the Louvre museum in Paris on Monday, following a weekend of violent protests and looting across several French cities. The museum's gates displayed 'Entrance closed' signs whilst protesters handed out leaflets to visitors. According to Euronews, the action aimed to bring the cultural sector into a wider movement initially led by high school students.

The weekend riots began on 17 October, sparked by anger over the cost of living and lack of opportunities for students, resulting in hundreds of arrests across France. President Macron addressed the nation in a televised speech, saying the French people 'all feel anger and shame' at the violence. He refused the resignation of interior minister Laurent Nuñez, with the Elysée Palace stating this was due to 'the necessity for continued leadership of law enforcement at this time'.

Euronews reported that a first-year student at the École du Louvre said the Louvre action aimed to highlight budget cuts and worsening working conditions at the museum. She also criticised the police response to Saturday's protest, describing it as repression of a peaceful demonstration. The protesters held banners including one reading 'French public services are falling apart'.

How it is being reported

• Top tourist destination in the world shuts down amid violent protestsProtesters in Paris barricaded the Louvre's iconic glass pyramid and entrances, forcing the world's most visited museum to shut down amid turmoil across the city.Fox News · 19 Oct, 15:01
• Protesters block entrances to Paris’s Louvre museumDemonstrators blocked the entrances to the Louvre in Paris on Monday, as tensions remained high following a weekend of protests, clashes and looting in France.Euronews · 19 Oct, 14:57
• Protesters block entrance to Louvre art gallery after weekend of chaosA group of protesters blocking access to the famous Louvre pyramid (Picture: Reuters) Protesters in Paris have blocked off the entrance to the Louvre museum and art gallery as violent demonstrations threaten to spill over into this week. Riots on October 17, sparked by anger over the cost of…Metro · 19 Oct, 10:03

In this story: Emmanuel Macron · Laurent Nuñez · Marine Le Pen · Jean-Luc Mélenchon · Louvre · Paris · France

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem