An Aussie tourist has filmed a confrontation with French police in Paris, claiming he was stopped and interrogated without being given a reason.
Ahmed Assaad was walking back to a hotel with his teenage brother during a dream trip to the city earlier in October when the pair were stopped by four officers on bicycles.
'We've come from Australia and the police want to do an investigation on us,' he said.
'So they've pulled us over for no reason, done a full check on us, took our passports and everything.'
Mr Assaad could be seen surrounded by officers who appeared to be conducting identification checks and asking for him to remove a hand from his pocket.
In the video, he asked a police officer for his name, before the officer appeared to try to block the Aussie's phone with his hand.
'This is for our safety. I'm afraid of the police who come and pull us over for no reason,' the tourist told the officer.
'You think you're strong cause you're behind the badge? That's the French police. Here's what they do to Australian tourists.'
Ahmed Assaad claimed he and his younger brother were stopped and questioned by police in Paris without being given a reason
Mr Assaad's younger brother was also questioned by police
The Aussie tourist claimed that the police refused to give their names
The video ends with the officers appearing to ride off without further incident.
In a follow-up TikTok video describing the incident, Mr Assaad claimed the police ran at them and swore in French before he started filming.
He also alleged the police claimed he and his brother were armed and did not believe they were Australians.
'They're like, "Go on the wall, we need to pat you and check you down and see what you're carrying",' he said.
'I go, "Brother, what he's talking about? What we're carrying?"'
Mr Assaad said the incident was unacceptable, taking issue with officers not sharing their names despite requesting his identification.
'They didn't even give their names. How do I know they're actually police officers?' he said.
The Daily Mail has contacted Mr Assaad and the French National Police for comment.
The video ends with the officers appearing to ride off without further incident
The video attracted thousands of comments, with social media users divided on whether it was right for police to carry out the stop and identification check.
'They demand your details but they hide their identity,' one viewer said.
Another added: 'Good on you for standing your ground. I bet they do feel powerful behind those badges.'
But others defended the police and said Mr Assaad should have shown more respect.
'I don't see a problem with them checking. Just let them check and leave. There's no need for all this drama or to disrespect them,' one said.
A second user added: 'You're in different countries so respect that it's normal. Even in Austria and Italy, they stop you and ask for your ID, so it's not a big deal.'
The Australian government website Smartraveller advises travellers to exercise a high degree of caution in France amid the ongoing threat of civil unrest and demonstrations.
On Friday local time, French police pledged to deploy 70,000 officers ahead of further demonstrations over the weekend after six weeks of escalating action.
More broadly, Smartraveller advises tourists to carry photo identification at all times, as police conduct random checks, particularly at borders.
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