I just now heard that there has been a police dust-up at the Place de la République, where those who would have been protesting (protests were banned after November 13) placed 20,000 pairs of shoes (The Pope even sent a pair) to signify those who would have been there in person. Not sure exactly what's going on, but shots have apparently been fired and 100 persons detained. Going back to listen to the radio news now.

There are apparently protests in major cities all over Europe tonight as well.

I think I need further confirmation for all this, though....

We were up there around 3-4 ish and huge police presence and areas blocked off. There was some chanting on the other side of the Place from where we had walked. We decided to leave. We have heard on France 24 Tv station that there was tear gas and ~200 arrested. I assume this happened after we left. Have not heard about any "shots" fired other than tear gas.

We saw scattered groupings of shoes and assume many more on the other side of the Place, but that was the area blocked off. We had gone up in hopes of seeing the shoes.

Yes, it was tear gas, not bullets, from what I'm hearing now.

République has been reopened, but I don't know if the shoes are still there.

People are outraged that the Black Bloc demonstrators used glass candle cups from the memorial to throw at the police and basically trampled everything.

Where is the summit being held? In a secure location I'm sure but just where - curious. biggest gathering of foreign heads of state and such since WW2 I heard.

That's pretty disrespectful and disgusting they did that. Do you know what time this all took place? We left because it didn't feel comfortable. The metro was not stopping at République on our way there and we had no idea what was going on.

It's being held in Le Bouget.

The summit is at a safe compound at Le Bourget, north of Paris.

Just curious...what makes it "safe?"

About 12,000 police. And since Le Bourget is also an airport, it probably has antiaircraft equipment.

Oh no! I thought I had logged onto a travel forum but found political hysteria. I just want to know what shoes to buy and how to get in from the airport. Not really, but perhaps some posters need to find a new forum for their opinions. At least Kerouac, please post your comments under a separate heading so I can see them and skip the other stuff.

ceeast1,

your posting appears on a thread that has nothing to do with buying shoes and getting to and from the airport; it is clearly a posting related to the terrorist attacks.

ceeast, you're the one who needs to find a new forum, or at least a new thread, if your interest is in shoes. Obviously, this is a thread devoted to the recent attacks in Paris, not shopping. Kerouac doesn't need your directive to post here or anywhere else. If you want to figure out how to get into Paris from the airport (which one?), there are probably 2,000 such threads on Fodors.

Political Hysteria?? Concerned people who aren't interested in shoes

At least Kerouac, please post your comments under a separate heading so I can see them and skip the other stuff.>

What do you NOT understand about this thread's title - PARIS UNDER SIEGE? You think it talks about things like shoes or you just clicked on anything with Paris in the title.

Tip - get shoes that can easily be taken off at airport security checks!

Folks, my comment was sarcastic. Of course I realize the Paris attack is heartbreaking. I will take the suggestion to find another forum however.

Frankly, this whole thread has just become "n'importe quoi".
There is no continuity, no rational thought process...
Why don't we just close it and move on?

MOVE ON!!!!!

Ca y'est! dis donc.