An Aussie tourist has filmed a confrontation with French police in Paris, claiming he was stopped and interrogated without being given a reason.
asserted
he → film → reason
Ahmed Assaad was walking back to a hotel with his teenage brother during a dream trip to the city earlier in October when the pair were stopped by four officers on bicycles.
asserted
pair → walk → bicycles
'We've come from Australia and the police want to do an investigation on us,' he said.
asserted
he → come → us
'So they've pulled us over for no reason, done a full check on us, took our passports and everything.'
Mr Assaad could be seen surrounded by officers who appeared to be conducting identification checks and asking for him to remove a hand from his pocket.
uncertain
him → pull → pocket
In the video, he asked a police officer for his name, before the officer appeared to try to block the Aussie's phone with his hand.
asserted
officer → ask → hand
I'm afraid of the police who come and pull us over for no reason,' the tourist told the officer.
asserted
tourist → come → officer
'You think you're strong cause you're behind the badge?
asserted
you → think → badge
Here's what they do to Australian tourists.'
Ahmed Assaad claimed he and his younger brother were stopped and questioned by police in Paris without being given a reason
Mr
asserted
he → do → reason
Assaad's younger brother was also questioned by police
asserted
brother → question → police
The Aussie tourist claimed that the police refused to give their names
The video ends with the officers appearing to ride off without further incident.
asserted
officers → claim → incident
In a follow-up TikTok video describing the incident, Mr Assaad claimed the police ran at them and swore in French before he started filming.
asserted
he → describe → French
He also alleged the police claimed he and his brother were armed and did not believe they were Australians.
asserted
they → allege → ?
'They're like, "Go on the wall, we need to pat you and check you down and see what you're carrying",' he said.
asserted
he → go → what
'I go, "Brother, what he's talking about?
asserted
he → go → what
What we're carrying?"
asserted
we → carry → What
Mr Assaad said the incident was unacceptable, taking issue with officers not sharing their names despite requesting his identification.
asserted
officers → say → identification
'They didn't even give their names.
asserted
They → give → names
How do I know they're actually police officers?' he said.
asserted
he → know → ?
The Daily Mail has contacted Mr Assaad and the French National Police for comment.
asserted
Mail → contact → comment
The video ends with the officers appearing to ride off without further incident
The video attracted thousands of comments, with social media users divided on whether it was right for police to carry out the stop and identification check.
asserted
police → end → check
'They demand your details but they hide their identity,' one viewer said.
asserted
viewer → demand → identity
Another added: 'Good on you for standing your ground.
asserted
Another → add → ground
I bet they do feel powerful behind those badges.
asserted
they → bet → badges
But others defended the police and said Mr Assaad should have shown more respect.
'
asserted
Assaad → defend → respect
I don't see a problem with them checking.
asserted
them → see → problem
Just let them check and leave.
asserted
them → let → ?
There's no need for all this drama or to disrespect them,' one said.
asserted
one → be → them
A second user added: 'You're in different countries so respect that it's normal.
asserted
it → add → countries
Even in Austria and Italy, they stop you and ask for your ID, so it's not a big deal.'
asserted
it → stop → ID
The Australian government website Smartraveller advises travellers to exercise a high degree of caution in France amid the ongoing threat of civil unrest and demonstrations.
asserted
website → advise → unrest
On Friday local time, French police pledged to deploy 70,000 officers ahead of further demonstrations over the weekend after six weeks of escalating action.
asserted
police → pledge → action
More broadly, Smartraveller advises tourists to carry photo identification at all times, as police conduct random checks, particularly at borders.
asserted
police → advise → borders
The Aporia
