Here are the highlights of the September 18, 2025 mobilization in Paris and the Île-de-France region:
18:40
55,000 demonstrators according to the prefecture
Early this evening, the Paris Prefecture of Police announced that 55,000 people had marched in the inter-union demonstration. This official figure gives an idea of the scale of the Parisian mobilization, which ended at Place de la Nation.
18:00
Centaure armored vehicles deployed at Place de la Nation
Centaure armored vehicles are deployed at Place de la Nation, the arrival point of the Paris motorcade. The deployment of these heavy vehicles demonstrates the preparedness of the forces of law and order for the arrival of the demonstrators on this symbolic square in eastern Paris.
17:40
Change of police strategy: "go after the rioters".
On the orders of the Prefect of Police, the Paris police force has changed its strategy. This 2nd phase marksa tactical turning point, following a number of broken windows, notably at the CIC bank, andbus shelters.
Having remained in the background until then, advancing along the flanks of the route and intervening only in brief assaults, the intervention forces have now been ordered to go"into contact with the rioters". The aim is to prevent them from staying on a fixed point to avoid damage. The aim is to"make themrun", as one senior officer put it, in order to break up and disperse the small groups.
17:03
Police: maneuver to lead the procession towards Nation
In response to the increasing number of attempts at damage made by the " high-risk group", notably black blocks, the police have announced "a maneuver to encourage the march towards the Place de la Nation". This strategy aims to avoid further incidents by directing the demonstration towards its planned arrival point. Police charged at rue de Charonne.
17:00
Attempted break-ins thwarted, new tensions on rue de Charonne
Several attempts to "break in and damage property", including a fast-food restaurant and a bank, were thwarted by the police, according to the Préfecture de Police.
At the same time, new tensions erupted in the Rue de Charonne area, with garbage cans burnt and street furniture vandalized, according to journalist Vincent Mongaillard. These incidents illustrate the escalation of violence on the bangs of the Paris demonstration.
16:40
Tensions in boulevard Voltaire: tear gas and arrests
Incidents broke out on boulevard Voltaire, where individuals attempted to vandalize a kiosk opposite the Lycée Voltaire. Police officers fired back with tear gas to repel this"high-risk group". Several arrests were made by the police, according to the Paris Prefecture of Police. These first clashes mark an escalation in tensions during the demonstration.
16:05
Prefecture: "The procession is progressing very well".
The Paris Prefecture of Police reports that "the progress of the procession is going very well", with no incidents to deplore for the moment. "On the other hand, several high-risk individuals have been spotted, but for the moment they have not managed to disrupt the smooth progress of the demonstration ", the prefecture adds. This reassuring assessment contrasts with the fears expressed in advance by the authorities.
15:40
200 black blocks gathered in Oberkampf
At the head of the procession, near boulevard Voltaire and rue Oberkampf, a group of black-clad demonstrators chanted "Tout le monde déteste la police" ("Everyone hates the police"). According to a police source, 200 hooded and masked black blocks are currently in the Oberkampf area. For the time being, no clashes have been reported, observes reporter Vincent Mongaillard on site.
13:05
Museums and monuments closed today
12:57
Blitzkrieg at the Ministry of the Economy
A surprise action took place in front of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, where Sud-Rail railway workers from the Gare de Lyon gathered. Around twenty of them entered theoutside compound via the parking/bike access, according to Le Figaro. This non-violent intrusion lasted between 10 and 15 minutes before they left without incident, testifying to the peaceful nature of this symbolic action.
12:10
Musée Delacroix closed
September 18, 2025 strike: Musée Delacroix closed to the public today
Bad news for art lovers: the Musée Delacroix is entirely closed to the public this September 18, 2025, due to a nationwide industrial action. [Read more]
11:53
Sud Rail railway workers gather near Gare de Lyon
Around a hundred demonstrators, mostly from the Sud Rail rail union, gathered outside the Gare de Lyon in the 12th arrondissement. Wooden crates and pallets were burnt before the unionists took the floor at a general assembly, illustrating the determination of these mobilized railway workers on this day of action.
11h52
Heightened security at Gare de Lyon
A large number of police officers have been deployed in and around the Gare de Lyon. Police officers are positioned in front of certain platform access gates to prevent any intrusion. They are searching the bags of people suspected of being activists, demonstrating the vigilance of the authorities in the face of the risk of disruption at this strategic station in the capital.
11:24
Heightened security in the Paris region
The Paris authorities are expressing concern about the scale of the mobilization. Police Prefect Laurent Nunez fears that hundreds, if not thousands, of radicals willinfiltrate the Parisian procession to "fight and smash".
The prefecture de police has deployed a force comparable to that for the Champions League final, mobilizing over forty DOPC sections, compared with around twenty for May 1st 2023. The watchword: to be"intractable" with any attempt to form a black block.
11:05
Railway workers to gather at Gare du Nord
Railway workers are due to gather at 11 a.m. at Gare du Nord, as authorities fear a "risk of blocking the tracks and the station". On the outskirts of the station, national police and gendarmerie teams are coordinating and preparing for the possibility of a blockade. Tension remains palpable, as the situation was particularly tense on this same site on Wednesday September 10.
10:30
Paris 1 University blocked on rue de Tolbiac
TheUniversity Paris 1-Centre Pierre Mendès France on rue de Tolbiac was blocked off by students from 7 a.m. and is expected to remain closed all day. No students were able to gain access to the building, as the curtain was lowered at theentrance. This student action is part of the general mobilization affecting the entireeducation sector in the capital.
9:55
Police intervention outside Lycée Racine
Police have surrounded around 30 students on rue de Rome in front of the Lycée Racine in the 8th arrondissement, following an attempted blockade. The situation is under control.
9:54
Seven people arrested in the Paris region
According to the Préfecture de police,seven people have been arrested in theParis area since the start of the day's protests. This provisional toll at 09:52 a.m. bears witness to the initial tensions observed during actionsby demonstrators in the capital region.
9:53
Partial blockade at Lycée Buffon in the 15th arrondissement
The Lycée Buffon in Paris's 15th arrondissement is also experiencing disruption, with some 50 young protesters mobilized. However, the blockade remains partial, as the doors remain open, allowing students to join their classes if they wish.
9:52
Calm situation in Essonne
At 07:30, the Essonne prefecture counted around 100 demonstrators in the department, with no particular blockades. A rally is taking place in Morsang-sur-Orge in front of thetown hall, and another is scheduled for 10 a.m. at the Parc-de-Vilgenis high school in Massy. Mobilization remains measured in this Paris region department.
9:23
Transport: situation "disrupted but not blocked".
Paris metro traffic is proving "a little less disrupted than expected", according to resigning Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot. On the SNCF, 9 out of 10 TGVs are still running, as are1 out of 2 Intercités and 3 out of 5 TERs.
The Minister' s assessment of the day's mobilization is nuanced, saying that "the transport situation is disrupted but not blocked". These figures show that the impact on the national rail network was less severe than expected, despite the significant disruptions announced by the unions.
9:00
Lycée Turgot blocked in the 3rd arrondissement
Around 50 young people took up position in front of the Lycée Turgot this Thursday morning, September 18, in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris, as part of the mobilization dynamic sweeping the country.
8:45
The route of the Paris march
Nearly 100,000 demonstrators are expected to march from Bastille to Nation, starting at 2pm. The route includes a passage through the Place de la République, an area particularly feared by the forces of law and order due to its potential for tension. This symbolic route ineastern Paris promises to be one of the key moments of this day of mobilization.
Eight days after the "Bloquons tout" movement, a new day of mobilization is being organized across the country. This time, it's the intersyndicale union calling for strikes and demonstrations on Thursday, September 18, 2025. So, what can we expect? In Paris, a large demonstration is planned between Place de la Bastille and Place de la Nation. Here's the detailed route of the procession. [Read more]
8:30
Free-flowing traffic in the Paris region
Road traffic in the Paris region is flowing more smoothly than usual this morning, according to Sytadin, the real-time traffic management service of the Direction des routes d'Île-de-France. This lighter traffic reflects the adaptation of Parisians to the public transport disruptions announced for this day of mobilization.
8:28
Paris stations deserted by passengers
At 8 a.m., the mainline platforms were unusually quiet, almost deserted. Parisians had clearly anticipated the disruptions announced. Transiliens and RER A and D trains still in service arrive half-empty. Even line 1 of the metro, one of the three automatic lines operating normally today, is far less busy than normal.
8:17
Blockade in Yvelines
Blockades are spreading throughout the region, with the first in the Yvelines department at Achères, in front of Siaap, Europe's largest Seveso-classified wastewater treatment plant. Around fifty strikers are maintaining a filtering blockade.
8:07
Champs-Élysées: businesses barricaded and protected
The Champs-Élysées were barricaded this morning, with many shopfronts protected. "It would be a shame to get a cinder block smashed into our beautiful windows", confides a local shopkeeper. Unlike on September 10, the police presence appears less imposing: no Centaure or roadblocks are deployed in the vicinity of the Élysée, marking a change in security strategy for this day of mobilization.
8:05
90% of pharmacies are closed. How can I find an open pharmacy?
Nearly 90% of pharmacies are closing their doors this Thursday, September 18, in the Île-de-France region. Pharmacists are mobilizing against the reduction in trade discounts on generic drugs, decided by the government in early August 2025. [Read more]
7:37
Demonstrators block Cours de Vincennes
Demonstrators have been blocking the Cours de Vincennes ineastern Paris at the Rue des Maraîchers intersection since 07:37. Ecologist MP Danielle Simonnet is among those taking part in the blockade, according to Le Figaro. The protesters are determined to disrupt traffic as part of this day of mobilization.
7:35
Bruno Retailleau takes a firm line in the face of mobilization
Resigning Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau showed his determination from the Porte d'Orléans, promising an uncompromising security response to the protests. "We'll be uncompromising and implacable. We will behave in the same way as on September 10", he declared, referring to previous interventions by the forces of law and order.
7:25
Major disruptions on the transport network, see the list of expected disruptions
September 18, 2025 is shaping up to be a particularly difficult day on public transport, due to a cross-industry industrial action. So what exactly can we expect on the metro, RER, Tramway and Transilien? Find out more about the disruptions announced by RATP and Transilien SNCF, with traffic forecasts and closed stations. [Read more]
7:01
Police intervention at Lycée Maurice-Ravel
Tensions were running high in the 20th arrondissement of Paris, where high school students attempted to block access to the Lycée Maurice-Ravel, using garbage cans as makeshift barricades. The police quickly intervened, dispersing the young demonstrators with tear gas. However, the determination of the blockers remained intact, as they returned to the site only minutes after being evacuated, illustrating the persistence of this high school mobilization, which is part of a wider social context of protest in eastern Paris.
7:00
Ile-de-France network paralyzed by disruptions
Public transport in theÎle-de-France region is experiencing heavy disruption today. RER lines D, E, H, N, R and U are experiencing heavy disruption, while RER lines A, B and C, K, L and V are experiencingsignificant disruption. In the capital, the situation is particularly critical for the Paris metro: only the three automatic lines 1, 4 and 14 are maintaining normal service, with all other lines at a standstill outside peak hours. This exceptional situation is plunging millions of Parisians into major transport difficulties.
6:50
Tensions in the XXth arrondissement during the blockade of a bus depot
The police intervened firmly on rue de Lagny to dislodge demonstrators blocking access to a bus depot in the XXth arrondissement. The intervention became tougher with the use of truncheons and tear gas in the face ofresistance from the protesters, who retaliated with smoke bombs. Despite these tensions, a first bus finally managed to leave the premises, marking a first victory for the authorities in this social standoff which is paralyzing part of the Paris transport network.
The September 18 strike is mobilizing massive numbers of workers in the streets of Paris, with processions planned in several of the capital's arrondissements. Eight trade union confederations are calling for this cross-industry mobilization against the Bayrou budget, creating an unprecedented convergence between traditional organizations and citizens' movements. The "Bloquons tout" ("Let's block everything") movement is continuing its actions after gathering 200,000 people in France on September 10, promising strategic blockades in Paris and the Île-de-France region.
September 18, 2025 strike: Musée Delacroix closed to the public today
September 18 strike: detailed route of the Paris demonstration
September 18 strike: how to find an open pharmacy in Paris and the Ile-de-France region?
September 18 strike: detailed traffic forecasts for metro, RER and Transilien trains
