Europe · Current events

Riots in Paris, Barcelona and Milan: a safety guide for expats

By Leonard Chioveanu · Updated 26 October 2026 · 6 min read

Most of this autumn’s protests have been peaceful, but some nights in Paris, Barcelona and Milan turned into looting, fires and clashes with police. If you live in one of these cities, the risk to you is low if you stay away from the trouble spots, but daily life is affected. Here is what has happened and what to do, as of 26 October 2026.

Paris

• What happened: on 17 October demonstrations across France were followed by looting and vandalism, with thousands of businesses damaged and more than 2,000 people taken into custody. On 24 October about 110,000 people marched in Paris, according to the Interior Ministry; police used tear gas and water cannon near Porte de Vincennes at the end of the march, and nearly 1,000 people were arrested across France.
• Rules in force: the police prefecture allowed only one union route (Bastille to Nation) and banned other demonstrations in Paris, with fines for joining undeclared gatherings. A partial night curfew applied around République and Les Halles from 11 pm to 6 am until 26 October. Check the prefecture’s website for new orders.
• Daily life: on protest days the RATP closed around 24 metro stations near the Champs-Élysées, the Élysée, parliament and the Latin Quarter, and the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay shut. Many shops boarded up.

Barcelona

• What happened: on the evening of 24 October a gathering of around 600 young people at Plaça de Catalunya turned into barricades, burning bins and looting in nearby streets. Police arrested 128 people, 72 of them minors; 15 officers were hurt and 23 businesses were vandalised.
• Context: the violence was separate from the peaceful housing camp that has occupied part of the square for weeks. The city says it will seek damages, including from the parents of minors.
• What is next: unions have called a general strike across Spain for 11 November, and a general election follows on 29 November.
• Daily life: the Renfe and FGC stations at Plaça de Catalunya were closed during the trouble, with trains passing without stopping.

Milan

• What happened: in mid-October rioters looted shops and set fires in central Milan during a cost-of-living protest, emptying Piazza del Duomo. Luxury boutiques have boarded up their windows.
• Response: the government sent about 500 soldiers to Milan, with paratroopers patrolling near the Duomo, carried out raids on suspected looters and announced tougher penalties for rioting, including for minors.
• Latest: a march of about 10,000 people on 24 October passed off without incidents in Milan, while there were clashes in Turin and Rome.

How to stay safe

• Check before you go out on protest days: the police prefecture and RATP in Paris, the Mossos d’Esquadra and TMB in Barcelona, ATM and the Comune in Milan. Protest meeting points are sometimes announced only at the last minute.
• Avoid the hot spots in the evening after large marches, when most of the trouble has happened: around Bastille, Nation, République and Les Halles in Paris; Plaça de Catalunya and the streets between Urquinaona and Universitat in Barcelona; Piazza del Duomo and the shopping streets nearby in Milan.
• If you get caught up, walk away from police lines and side streets that could be closed off, do not film police at close range, and follow instructions. Tear gas: move upwind and rinse your eyes with water.
• Emergencies: call 112 anywhere in the EU.

Protect your home, car and permit

• Insurance. Many home and car policies cover damage from riots or civil unrest, but some exclude it. Read your policy now, take photos of anything damaged and report it quickly. Shops and business owners should check their business interruption cover.
• Bring things in. Paris authorities asked residents along march routes to bring in bins, bikes and outdoor furniture. Avoid parking on main routes on protest days.
• Your residence permit. An arrest or a conviction can affect a permit renewal or a citizenship application, even for a fine. If you are on a permit, stay clear of unauthorised gatherings.
• Talk to your teenagers. Many of those arrested in France, Barcelona and Milan were minors, and parents can face claims for damage. Schools in several countries have seen walkouts.

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This guide is general information based on the tax rules we could verify for 2026, not tax or financial advice. Rules change and personal situations differ, so check with the tax authority or a qualified adviser before you act. Spotted a mistake? Email [email protected].