Media: Paris restaurant fire linked to police’ tear gas grenade VIDEO

A fire broke out at the Wafu Bar, a Korean restaurant on Rue Saint-Denis near Châtelet–Les Halles in Paris, during nationwide protests on September 10. Investigators say the blaze was potentially triggered by the detonation of a tear gas grenade, reportedly deployed by a police officer at the scene.

The flames spread rapidly after the restaurant’s veranda roof caught fire, with artificial vines carrying the blaze up the wall of the seven-storey building. Firefighters evacuated the area and brought the fire under control before it could engulf the upper floors. Footage from the scene showed flames inside the restaurant as the blaze intensified on the afternoon of September 10, Caliber.Az reports via BFMTV. 

Authorities confirmed that the Wafu Bar, located on the ground floor of the building, sustained severe damage. They have pledged to compensate the restaurant’s owners. Officials also stated that the officer who deployed the grenade will not face criminal liability if his actions are deemed justified.

❗️⚠️🇫🇷 - Place de la République in Paris was filled with thousands of protesters, with the iconic monument covered in graffiti and adorned with numerous flags, including Palestinian flags and those commemorating the Paris Commune of 1871.

A fire broke out above the Wafu Bar, a… pic.twitter.com/Bz203PFviy

— 🔥🗞The Informant (@theinformant_x) September 10, 2025

The incident occurred as police clashed with demonstrators near the restaurant. Law enforcement used tear gas to disperse crowds protesting against austerity measures and President Emmanuel Macron’s appointment of Sébastien Lecornu as prime minister.

Nationwide, authorities deployed 80,000 police officers and gendarmes to contain the unrest, which has seen road blockades, burning barricades, and widespread disruption to transport, schools, and public services. By September 10, 327 people had been detained across France, including 199 in Paris.

By Sabina Mammadli