Four arrested after protesters disrupt Israeli concert in Paris

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PARIS (Reuters) -Four people were arrested after protesters used flares to disrupt a concert by the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra in Paris on Thursday night, the latest in a wave of anti-Israel incidents linked to the Gaza conflict, French officials said on Friday.

In footage posted on social media, protesters were seen lighting flares and chanting pro-Palestinian slogans in La Philharmonie concert hall in northern Paris as some audience members and security personnel tried to remove them.

Despite the chaos and several interruptions, the concert went ahead after the protesters were evacuated.

“I strongly condemn the actions committed last night during a concert at the Philharmonie de Paris. Nothing can justify them,” Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on X.

“I thank the personnel from the Paris police who enabled the rapid arrest of several perpetrators of serious disturbances inside the venue and contained the demonstrators outside. Four people have been placed in custody,” he added.

The Paris prosecutor’s office said three women and a man were in custody, on charges ranging from violence, destruction and organising an unauthorised protest.

Culture Minister Rachida Dati on X condemned the disruptions as going against the “fundamental rights of our Republic.”

The Philharmonie said it had filed a criminal complaint.

(Reporting by Dominique VidalonEditing by Alexandra Hudson)