Skirmish at Charles de Gaulle Airport over Kurdish activist's deportation
9:02 PM EDT, March 27, 2024, updated: 6:32 AM EDT, March 28, 2024
On Wednesday afternoon, the Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle airport became the scene of dangerous incidents during the deportation of Kurdish activist Firaz Korkmaz from France. The situation necessitated military intervention.
Three individuals were injured amid a skirmish instigated by supporters of the terrorist group PKK at the Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. Reports suggest that around 20 individuals rallied against the extradition of PKK member Firaz Korkmaz to Turkey, fearing he would face torture and imprisonment upon his return.
The supporters clashed with the National Repatriation Unit's team responsible for Korkmaz's escort, escalating tensions between the protestors and the airport’s civilian personnel.
The confrontation, initially confined to a police station, eventually spilled over to the terminal. The soldiers, compelled to intervene, swiftly reestablished order to the bewilderment of onlookers.
During the melee, assailants targeted the agents of the National Expulsions Unit (Unesi), tasked with escorting Korkmaz, and attempted unauthorized access to restricted airport areas.
Although authorities have initiated an investigation into the incident, arrests are yet to be made. Despite the turmoil, Firaz Korkmaz was successfully deported to Turkey.
Source: BFMTV, Le Journal du Dimanche, Europe 1
