Live Update arrow right icon From the Liveblog of Friday, May 3, 2024

Police enter central Paris university in riot gear amid pro-Palestinian sit-in — witnesses

By ToI Staff and Agencies 3 May 2024, 1:11 pm Edit
Members of Palestine Action Committee (Comite Action Palestine) speak to journalists near the entrance of the Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po Paris) which has been occupied by pro-Palestinian students, Paris, May 3, 2024.(Migual Medina/AFP)
Members of Palestine Action Committee (Comite Action Palestine) speak to journalists near the entrance of the Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po Paris) which has been occupied by pro-Palestinian students, Paris, May 3, 2024.(Migual Medina/AFP)

French police have been seen entering the main building of Sciences Po university in central Paris, after a group of pro-Palestinian students protesting Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza staged a sit-in.

A student inside the university confirms to Reuters that police are closing in on the protesters, while videos shared on social media show officers in riot gear entering the building.

Another student tells reporters that around 50 students are still inside the rue Saint-Guillaume site, while television images from the scene suggest the evacuation is passing off peacefully.

The prestigious university announced yesterday that it would keep its main Paris site closed today due to the fresh occupation of buildings by pro-Palestinian students protesting against Israel.

In a message sent to staff last night, Sciences Po management said the buildings in central Paris “will remain closed tomorrow, Friday May 3. We ask you to continue to work from home.”

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