A historic Paris theatre occupied by approximately 450 African migrants for months has left neighbouring businesses facing bankruptcy.
The Gaite-Lyrique theatre has been overtaken by migrants who were previously sleeping rough on the streets of the French capital.
Local business owners have reported significant financial losses and some have received death threats.
The occupation has transformed the usually tranquil area, with the theatre remaining closed for almost three months.
Police have been instructed not to carry out forced evictions despite calls from residents and theatre management.
The occupation began in December when less than half of the current migrants were invited to a conference titled "Reinventing the welcome for refugees in France" at the historic playhouse.
They were encouraged to stay and establish residence by the radical left-wing "Collectif des Jeunes du Parc de Belleville" group.
This activist organisation told the migrants, who all claim to be under 18, they are "entitled" to "permanent" housing as minors.
MORE LIKE THIS:
Local officials dispute this claim, insisting the squatters are adults and have refused to provide alternative accommodation.
This standoff has effectively closed the theatre for almost three months.
The owner of the Bistrot de la Gaite restaurant, Elia Cordier, told The Daily Mail she is close to bankruptcy and has received death threats.
"This political stunt is ruining me. I am losing thousands of euros every day," she said. "On a normal Saturday I would clear 2,500. Today I'll be lucky if I make 200. If this carries on, I will be bankrupt within one or two months."
Cordier added: "I don't want to talk about how I feel about the occupation I've had death threats from the anarchists behind all of this."
The usually bustling terrace of the Bistrot de la Gaite now sits empty, even on bright weekend days when it would typically be filled with Parisians. Inside the traditional French restaurant, every seat remains vacant.
In previous comments to The Times, Cordier described how the migrants' behaviour had affected the area.
"They hang around outside my terrace, smoking joints and fighting among themselves," she said, "Not only do we no longer get theatregoers because the theatre is shut but we don't get passers-by either. They're being frightened away by all these young men."
Other local businesses report the park in front of the theatre has become a venue for drug dealing.
Local residents fear the occupation threatens French cultural heritage.
"What is happening here is putting French culture at risk," businessman David Bayard told The Mail, while watching migrants gather on the theatre steps.
"Paris is the centre of French culture. This theatre is important to French culture. We used to go to this theatre often. Now this occupation has taken that away from us."
His wife Tiffany added: "Why can't the state find a safe place for these people to sleep. Closing down this theatre is an act of cultural sabotage."
Meanwhile, the theatre itself faces bankruptcy as its income has collapsed.
On Friday, the theatre's 60 employees, who had been attempting to "manage the situation", walked out and handed over responsibility to the Paris authority.
Despite calls for eviction from residents and theatre management, authorities remain reluctant to forcibly remove the migrants.
A police sergeant told The Mail: "These young African men are being exploited by these extreme activists who are trying to cause anarchy on the streets of Paris.
"The Paris Prefet has instructed us not to carry out a forced eviction as this will just play into the extremists' hands."
Police fear confrontation would provide propaganda opportunities for the anarchist group.
Scenes of African migrants sleeping rough have become common in Paris, with tent cities appearing across the capital.
Crime is a growing concern in Paris, particularly in northern districts considered most dangerous.
While high-profile heists make headlines, petty crimes create an increasingly hostile atmosphere across the city.
Aggressive begging is commonplace outside cafes and small supermarkets in tourist areas.
GB News has approached representatives of the activist Collectif des Jeunes du Parc de Belleville for comment.
Find Out More...
The Gaite-Lyrique theatre has been overtaken by migrants who were previously sleeping rough on the streets of the French capital.
Local business owners have reported significant financial losses and some have received death threats.
The occupation has transformed the usually tranquil area, with the theatre remaining closed for almost three months.
Police have been instructed not to carry out forced evictions despite calls from residents and theatre management.
The occupation began in December when less than half of the current migrants were invited to a conference titled "Reinventing the welcome for refugees in France" at the historic playhouse.
They were encouraged to stay and establish residence by the radical left-wing "Collectif des Jeunes du Parc de Belleville" group.
This activist organisation told the migrants, who all claim to be under 18, they are "entitled" to "permanent" housing as minors.
MORE LIKE THIS:
- ‘An experience of modern Europe!’ Leo Kearse blasts Paris theatre managers facing bankruptcy after opening doors to migrants
- Migrant couple who can't speak English allowed to live in UK because gangs ‘would stop relationship’
- Paris theatre facing 'tragic' situation after being occupied by hundreds of illegal migrants, Kearse says
Local officials dispute this claim, insisting the squatters are adults and have refused to provide alternative accommodation.
This standoff has effectively closed the theatre for almost three months.
The owner of the Bistrot de la Gaite restaurant, Elia Cordier, told The Daily Mail she is close to bankruptcy and has received death threats.
"This political stunt is ruining me. I am losing thousands of euros every day," she said. "On a normal Saturday I would clear 2,500. Today I'll be lucky if I make 200. If this carries on, I will be bankrupt within one or two months."
Cordier added: "I don't want to talk about how I feel about the occupation I've had death threats from the anarchists behind all of this."
The usually bustling terrace of the Bistrot de la Gaite now sits empty, even on bright weekend days when it would typically be filled with Parisians. Inside the traditional French restaurant, every seat remains vacant.
In previous comments to The Times, Cordier described how the migrants' behaviour had affected the area.
"They hang around outside my terrace, smoking joints and fighting among themselves," she said, "Not only do we no longer get theatregoers because the theatre is shut but we don't get passers-by either. They're being frightened away by all these young men."
Other local businesses report the park in front of the theatre has become a venue for drug dealing.
Local residents fear the occupation threatens French cultural heritage.
"What is happening here is putting French culture at risk," businessman David Bayard told The Mail, while watching migrants gather on the theatre steps.
"Paris is the centre of French culture. This theatre is important to French culture. We used to go to this theatre often. Now this occupation has taken that away from us."
His wife Tiffany added: "Why can't the state find a safe place for these people to sleep. Closing down this theatre is an act of cultural sabotage."
Meanwhile, the theatre itself faces bankruptcy as its income has collapsed.
On Friday, the theatre's 60 employees, who had been attempting to "manage the situation", walked out and handed over responsibility to the Paris authority.
Despite calls for eviction from residents and theatre management, authorities remain reluctant to forcibly remove the migrants.
A police sergeant told The Mail: "These young African men are being exploited by these extreme activists who are trying to cause anarchy on the streets of Paris.
"The Paris Prefet has instructed us not to carry out a forced eviction as this will just play into the extremists' hands."
Police fear confrontation would provide propaganda opportunities for the anarchist group.
Scenes of African migrants sleeping rough have become common in Paris, with tent cities appearing across the capital.
Crime is a growing concern in Paris, particularly in northern districts considered most dangerous.
While high-profile heists make headlines, petty crimes create an increasingly hostile atmosphere across the city.
Aggressive begging is commonplace outside cafes and small supermarkets in tourist areas.
GB News has approached representatives of the activist Collectif des Jeunes du Parc de Belleville for comment.
Find Out More...