Some 200 people have been occupying a disused school in the south of Paris for several hours, on the initiative of an association helping migrants and asylum seekers, said the mayor of the 15th arrondissement. These people – around 150 men and 40 women and children – “broke in in the middle of the night” in the school of Saints Angels, a private establishment which closed its doors last summer, according to mayor Philippe Goujon.
The operation occurred on the initiative of the association United Migrants, according to several sources. The member of the association present at the scene was arrested by the police and “placed in police custody for degrading the premises”, added the mayor.
Discussions to resolve the situation
The United Migrants association could not be reached on Saturday. Several hours after entering the premises, the 200 occupants were still there. The Ile-de-France prefecture, the police prefecture and the social services of the City of Paris are in discussion to resolve the situation, said Philippe Goujon.
The School of the Holy Angels was a private Catholic school under contract. It closed its doors eighteen months ago due to a dispute with the owner of the premises.