Security

Security analysis & crisis preparedness

Analysis of the threat situation in European metropolitan areas

In parts of Western and Southern Europe – particularly in France , but also situationally in Greece, Italy, or Great Britain – large-scale strikes, politically charged events, or incidents involving security forces regularly lead to dynamic escalation. This threat is comprised of three phenomena:

1. Autonomous tactics (“Black Bloc”)

Goal: Targeted confrontation with the police, destruction of symbols of the financial system (banks, luxury boutiques, fast-food chains, advertising spaces) and erection of burning barricades.

Risk to third parties: High dynamism due to rapid advances via side streets. The use of police resources (tear gas, stun grenades, water cannons) often shifts abruptly into busy residential and restaurant areas.

2. Crime & Opportunists

Objective: To exploit the loss of police control in the shadow of demonstrations or in suburbs (e.g. the French banlieues ).

Risk to third parties: Looting of shops, vandalism at bus stops and targeted arson of parked private and rental vehicles.

3. Collateral damage to travelers

Travelers are rarely targeted as a primary objective, but they are at acute risk of being caught in the crossfire, suffering severe respiratory irritation from tear gas, or being affected by curfews or traffic disruptions. Furthermore, they face legal consequences if police kettles are not followed immediately when orders to disperse are issued by law enforcement.

Code of conduct: Prevention & Preparation

• On-site situation check: Before leaving your accommodation, check local news (e.g., live tickers of regional newspapers) and the social media channels of the relevant police prefectures (e.g., Préfecture de Police in Paris) for announced demonstration routes and assembly bans.
• Travel apps & crisis preparedness: Use emergency apps from foreign ministries (e.g., Safe Travel from the Federal Foreign Office) and register on relevant crisis preparedness lists.
• Clothing and appearance: Avoid wearing all-black clothing, hoodies, face coverings, or military-style backpacks – these can lead to police mistaking you for autonomous rioters. Conceal conspicuous jewelry and expensive cameras to avoid attracting opportunistic thieves in chaotic situations.
• Vehicle safety: Never park vehicles on known demonstration routes, in side streets of troubled neighborhoods, or in unsecured parking lots. Use guarded underground parking garages. When driving in city traffic, lock doors from the inside (protection against carjacking at red lights).

Behavior in an acute escalation

1. Caught in the crossfire

Maintain immediate distance: Do not stop out of curiosity or take videos/photos of rioters or police units. Aggressive groups react extremely hostilely to cameras.

Escape route: Do not run towards the police lines. Quickly, upright, and calmly move diagonally to the main direction of travel into a safe side street. Avoid narrow passages such as subway entrances or dead ends.

2 Protection in buildings

If stones are thrown, pyrotechnics detonate, or panic breaks out, flee immediately to the nearest open hotel, department store, cafe, or restaurant.

Please ask the staff to lock the doors.

Security & Crisis Prevention

Danger situation & specific behavioral tips in case of tumult, unrest and riots

In European metropolitan areas and cities – particularly in France, but also in Greece, Italy, and the UK – large-scale strikes, politically charged demonstrations, or incidents involving security forces can lead to rapid escalation. The threat level is comprised of three key dynamics:

Three key risk factors at a glance

• Autonomous tactics (“Black Bloc”): Rapid movements through side streets, destruction of banks, advertising spaces and chain stores, and the erection of burning barricades with the aim of direct confrontation with the police.
• Copycat crime and looting: Especially in suburban areas (e.g., the banlieues) or in the wake of demonstrations, there is targeted vandalism, vehicle arson, and looting of shops.
• Collateral damage to uninvolved parties: Travelers are rarely the primary target, but easily get caught in the crossfire, suffer respiratory irritation from tear gas (CS gas), or are drawn into government encirclements.

Prevention & Travel Preparation

• Check the situation center: Before leaving the hotel, check live tickers from local media and official accounts of the police authorities (e.g., Préfecture de Police ) for information on restricted areas and demonstration routes.
• Crisis preparedness: Registration in the emergency lists of the foreign ministries (e.g., the "Safe Travel" app of the Federal Foreign Office / ELEFAND).
• Clothing & appearance: Avoid all-black outfits, balaclavas, neck gaiters or military-style backpacks – this prevents serious mix-ups with violent rioters by special forces.
• Vehicle safety: Never park cars on main roads or unsecured streets. Use only guarded underground parking garages. When driving through urban areas, lock doors from the inside (protection against carjacking ).

Behavior in case of acute escalation

1. Caught in the crossfire

Immediately create distance. Never film or photograph – rioters react aggressively to cameras. Calmly move diagonally to the direction of travel into safe side streets. Avoid subway entrances and dead ends.

2. Protection in buildings

In case of flying stones, firecrackers, or panic, flee directly into hotels, department stores, or restaurants. Ask staff to lock the entrances. Seek shelter indoors and avoid glass fronts.

3. Contact with irritant gas (CS gas)

Never rub your eyes (this will worsen the irritation). Move against the wind and out of depressions in the ground. Breathe through a cloth and rinse mucous membranes with water or saline solution as quickly as possible.

4. Police encirclement

Keep your hands visible at all times and avoid sudden movements inside your backpack. Keep valid travel documents readily available and calmly signal to emergency personnel that you are an uninvolved traveler.

Consumer Law & Finance

Passenger rights and compensation claims in the event of strikes, unrest and riots

Whether and to what extent costs are reimbursed in the event of disruptions depends primarily on who causes the disruption (e.g., airline staff vs. external third parties) and whether it is an individual booking or a package tour .

1. Air passenger rights (EU Regulation 261/2004)

In the case of cancellations or arrival delays of at least 3 hours, the following differentiation applies:

• Compensation payment (€250 to €600):
  • Internal strike (by the airline's own staff): According to the ECJ case law (e.g., case C-28/20), industrial action by the airline's own workforce is part of normal business operations. This is not considered an extraordinary circumstance – full compensation is payable .
  • External strike (air traffic control, security checks, ground handling): Considered an unavoidable, extraordinary circumstance. No entitlement to compensation.
  • Riots, civil war: These are considered unavoidable acts of God. No entitlement to compensation.
• Ticket refund or alternative transportation: If the flight is cancelled or delayed by more than 5 hours, passengers always have the choice between a full refund of the ticket price or the fastest possible alternative transportation – regardless of the reason for the disruption.
• Care services: Meals, drinks and – if necessary – hotel accommodation including transfers must be provided free of charge by the airline even in cases of force majeure, strikes by third parties and civil unrest.

2. Rail passenger rights (EU Regulation 2021/782)

• Trip cancellation & full refund: If it becomes apparent that the train will arrive at its destination with a delay of more than 60 minutes, the journey can be cancelled or interrupted. The fare will be refunded in full.
• Compensation for delay (25% from 60 min., 50% from 120 min.):
  • Strike by the railway's own staff: Not considered force majeure; compensation will be paid.
  • Sabotage, riots, track blockades: According to the reformed EU regulation, the fault of third parties is considered force majeure . In these cases, the flat-rate compensation for delays is not payable.
• Stranded at the train station: If the railway company no longer offers onward travel, there is an entitlement to reimbursement of the costs for hotel or onward transport (e.g. taxi up to the legal maximum limits).

3. Hotel bookings for individual trips

Separate contracts must be observed.

When booking individually, the traveler bears the risk of non-availability. If the hotel is open and accessible as usual, cancellations due to strikes or riots in other parts of the city are not automatically free of charge (the cancellation deadlines of the chosen rate apply).

Exception of Impossibility: If the hotel is located in a police-evacuated exclusion zone, has been damaged by riots, or is required to close by order of the authorities, the payment obligation is completely waived. Any deposits already paid must be refunded.

4. Special status: The package tour

Package holidaymakers enjoy the most comprehensive protection under EU travel law:

• Free cancellation before departure: If unavoidable, extraordinary circumstances arise at the destination or in its immediate vicinity (e.g., official travel warnings, civil unrest, road closures), the trip can be cancelled free of charge . The tour operator must refund the full price of the trip within 14 days.
• Trip cancellation & evacuation: If the situation escalates during the stay, the tour operator is obligated to ensure early return transport. Any additional costs will be borne by the operator; the tour price will be reduced proportionally for unused travel days.