Authorities say they have removed most of the hundreds of illegal immigrants who took over a building in the Paris suburb of Gentilly at around midnight on Saturday night (3 September) and refused to leave.

Some of the would-be squatters still remain in the 8000 square metre (86,111 square feet) space and have climbed on to the roof to make it hard for police to remove them.

The 300-400 migrants, many of whom are said to be from Africa or Afghanistan, made “a citizens requisition” of the property overnight, said United Migrants, an association which supports them.

It told media outlets that the migrants were mostly homeless and it was a better alternative than having them live on the streets.

It has been reported that the building was due to be knocked down.

Paris suburb. In Gentilly, hundreds of illegal immigrants occupy 8000 m2 illegally. Some are mounted on the roof in order to make it difficult for the police to evacuate. 4 sept 2022. Avenue Raspail
They made “a citizen requisition”, indicated United Migrants, an association which supports them