🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 16 (from laksa182)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa016.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56440485\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56440485\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-europe-56440485","crawl_time":1773803141,"first_indexed_time":1616082794,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,bbc!www,\/news\/world-europe-56440485 s443","src_root_hash":"1643509356818581016","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Paris airport: Algerian passengers from UK stranded for weeks","meta_descriptions":["Twenty-six Algerians who flew from the UK have spent three weeks waiting to complete their journey."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"18 March 2021\nHugh Schofield\nBBC News, Paris\nBBC\nTwo children in the group appealed to the Algerian president to help them go home\nTwenty-six Algerians returning home from the UK have been stuck in transit at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris for the past three weeks.\nThe group, which includes two young girls and a 75-year-old woman, flew from Heathrow Airport on 26 February.\nIn Paris they were told by Air Algeria they could not continue their journey, reportedly because of Covid measures.\nThey have since been living rough in the transit area of Terminal 2 at Charles de Gaulle.\nThe Algerian embassy in Paris told the BBC that the airline had informed everyone ahead of the flight that their tickets had been cancelled after the UK-Kent Covid variant was detected in Algeria on 25 February.\nAccording to one of the passengers, some members of the group have British passports while others are UK residents or have a valid UK visa. One woman's visa had expired, he said, and another was being sent back to Algeria as an illegal immigrant.\nThey all had urgent reasons to fly back, with some visiting sick relatives.\nSince their arrival at the airport they have been sleeping on chairs or on the floor, eating food provided by volunteers. Another member of the group is being treated in hospital.\nState-owned Air Algeria initially gave them food vouchers, but stopped when they refused the company's offer to fly them back to London.\n'I gave up my flat'\nThey have access to showers in a zone of the airport where there is a hotel, but they are charged €20 (£17; $24) to use them. They also receive a doctor's visit every day.\nThe group have had to sleep on chairs or on the floor\nOne man, who left his job as a chef in the town of Eastbourne on the south coast of England, told the BBC that they had taken an early morning flight on 26 February and all had tickets from London through to Algiers, as well as the required negative Covid test.\nWhen they tried to board the connecting flight at Charles de Gaulle they were turned back, he said, because of the UK variant.\n\"Everyone has important personal reasons to go to Algeria. My wife is there and has had Covid. I gave up my flat and job. Otherwise we'd go back to the UK,\" said the man, who wished to remain anonymous.\nVolunteers have been providing food for the group\nTheir situation has become more and more desperate, but they have vowed to stay put until the Algerian authorities let them travel.\n\"It is miserable here. How long can you keep sleeping on the floor before you crack? Two weeks, three weeks, four?\"\nClosing of Algeria's borders\nThe Algerian embassy said its consul had met the group at the airport on 2 March \"to tell them it was necessary for them to go back to their place of residence until the borders re-opened\". The passengers were told that the government in Algiers had decided to close the borders on 28 February and that no exception would be made, it said.\nThe airline had been willing to pay for hotel fees and tickets back to the passengers' places of residence but the group had remained at the airport, the embassy spokesperson said.\nFor a year Algeria has run a very strict border policy, suspending most air and sea connections and stranding tens of thousands of its nationals abroad.\nThis has angered many in the Algerian diaspora who say that ordinary people are suffering while those with the right connections can still travel to and fro.\nThe French airports authority has said it is doing its best to help the Algerians, although the group are not their responsibility.\n\"It is a precarious situation, but we have no say over what happens to them,\" a spokesperson said. \"It is down to the Algerian authorities and Air Algeria.\"\nMore stories about being stuck at airports\nHassan al-Kontar spoke to the BBC about being stranded at Kuala Lumpur airport in 2018\n'I'm stranded at Madrid Airport'","attrs_markdown":"[Skip to content](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-europe-56440485#main-content)\n\n[Register](https:\/\/session.bbc.com\/session?action=register&userOrigin=BBCS_BBC&ptrt=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fnews%2Fworld-europe-56440485)\n\n[Sign In](https:\/\/session.bbc.com\/session?userOrigin=BBCS_BBC&ptrt=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fnews%2Fworld-europe-56440485)\n\n- [Home](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/)\n- [News](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news)\n- [Sport](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/sport)\n- [Business](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/business)\n- [Technology](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/technology)\n- [Health](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/health)\n- [Culture](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/culture)\n- [Arts](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/arts)\n- [Travel](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/travel)\n- [Earth](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/future-planet)\n- [Audio](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/audio)\n- [Video](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/video)\n- [Live](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/live)\n\n- [Home](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/home)\n- [News](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news)\n  - [US & Canada](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/us-canada)\n  - [UK](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/uk)\n    - [UK Politics](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/politics)\n    - [England](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/england)\n    - [N. 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Ireland Politics](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/northern_ireland\/northern_ireland_politics)\n    - [Scotland](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/scotland)\n      - [Scotland Politics](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/scotland\/scotland_politics)\n    - [Wales](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/wales)\n      - [Wales Politics](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/wales\/wales_politics)\n  - [Africa](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world\/africa)\n  - [Asia](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world\/asia)\n    - [China](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world\/asia\/china)\n    - [India](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world\/asia\/india)\n  - [Australia](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world\/australia)\n  - [Europe](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world\/europe)\n  - [Latin America](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world\/latin_america)\n  - [Middle East](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world\/middle_east)\n  - [In Pictures](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/in_pictures)\n  - [BBC InDepth](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/bbcindepth)\n  - [BBC Verify](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/bbcverify)\n- [Sport](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/sport)\n- [Business](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/business)\n  - 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[Adventures](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/travel\/adventures)\n  - [The SpeciaList](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/travel\/specialist)\n- [Earth](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/future-planet)\n  - [Science](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/innovation\/science)\n  - [Natural Wonders](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/future-planet\/natural-wonders)\n  - [Climate Solutions](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/future-planet\/solutions)\n  - [Sustainable Business](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/future-planet\/sustainable-business)\n  - [Green Living](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/future-planet\/green-living)\n- [Audio](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/audio)\n  - [Podcast Categories](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/audio\/categories)\n  - [Radio](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/audio\/stations)\n  - [Audio FAQs](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/undefined)\n- [Video](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/video)\n  - [BBC Maestro](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/video\/bbc-maestro)\n  - [Discover the World](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/video\/discover-the-world)\n- [Live](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/live)\n  - [Live News](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/live\/news)\n  - [Live Sport](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/live\/sport)\n\n[Home](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/)\n\nNews\n\n[Sport](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/sport)\n\nBusiness\n\nTechnology\n\n[Health](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/health)\n\nCulture\n\nArts\n\nTravel\n\nEarth\n\nAudio\n\nVideo\n\nLive\n\n[Weather](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/weather)\n\n[Newsletters](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/newsletters)\n\n# Paris airport: Algerian passengers from UK stranded for weeks\n18 March 2021\n\nShare\n\nSave\n\nHugh SchofieldBBC News, Paris\n\nShare\n\nSave\n\n![BBC Two children in the group appealed to the Algerian president to help them go home](https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/5F66\/production\/_117622442_photo-2021-03-17-17-43-57.jpg.webp)BBC\n\nTwo children in the group appealed to the Algerian president to help them go home\n\n**Twenty-six Algerians returning home from the UK have been stuck in transit at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris for the past three weeks.**\n\nThe group, which includes two young girls and a 75-year-old woman, flew from Heathrow Airport on 26 February.\n\nIn Paris they were told by Air Algeria they could not continue their journey, reportedly because of Covid measures.\n\nThey have since been living rough in the transit area of Terminal 2 at Charles de Gaulle.\n\nThe Algerian embassy in Paris told the BBC that the airline had informed everyone ahead of the flight that their tickets had been cancelled after the UK-Kent Covid variant was detected in Algeria on 25 February.\n\nAccording to one of the passengers, some members of the group have British passports while others are UK residents or have a valid UK visa. One woman's visa had expired, he said, and another was being sent back to Algeria as an illegal immigrant.\n\nThey all had urgent reasons to fly back, with some visiting sick relatives.\n\nSince their arrival at the airport they have been sleeping on chairs or on the floor, eating food provided by volunteers. Another member of the group is being treated in hospital.\n\nState-owned Air Algeria initially gave them food vouchers, but stopped when they refused the company's offer to fly them back to London.\n\n## 'I gave up my flat'\nThey have access to showers in a zone of the airport where there is a hotel, but they are charged €20 (£17; \\$24) to use them. They also receive a doctor's visit every day.\n\n![Living conditions are basic](https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/images\/ic\/1024x1024\/p0hq72jn.png.webp)\n\nThe group have had to sleep on chairs or on the floor\n\nOne man, who left his job as a chef in the town of Eastbourne on the south coast of England, told the BBC that they had taken an early morning flight on 26 February and all had tickets from London through to Algiers, as well as the required negative Covid test.\n\nWhen they tried to board the connecting flight at Charles de Gaulle they were turned back, he said, because of the UK variant.\n\n\"Everyone has important personal reasons to go to Algeria. My wife is there and has had Covid. I gave up my flat and job. Otherwise we'd go back to the UK,\" said the man, who wished to remain anonymous.\n\n![Sympathisers have been providing food for the group](https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/images\/ic\/1024x1024\/p0hq72jn.png.webp)\n\nVolunteers have been providing food for the group\n\nTheir situation has become more and more desperate, but they have vowed to stay put until the Algerian authorities let them travel.\n\n\"It is miserable here. How long can you keep sleeping on the floor before you crack? Two weeks, three weeks, four?\"\n\n## Closing of Algeria's borders\nThe Algerian embassy said its consul had met the group at the airport on 2 March \"to tell them it was necessary for them to go back to their place of residence until the borders re-opened\". The passengers were told that the government in Algiers had decided to close the borders on 28 February and that no exception would be made, it said.\n\nThe airline had been willing to pay for hotel fees and tickets back to the passengers' places of residence but the group had remained at the airport, the embassy spokesperson said.\n\nFor a year Algeria has run a very strict border policy, suspending most air and sea connections and stranding tens of thousands of its nationals abroad.\n\nThis has angered many in the Algerian diaspora who say that ordinary people are suffering while those with the right connections can still travel to and fro.\n\nThe French airports authority has said it is doing its best to help the Algerians, although the group are not their responsibility.\n\n\"It is a precarious situation, but we have no say over what happens to them,\" a spokesperson said. \"It is down to the Algerian authorities and Air Algeria.\"\n\n![line](https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/images\/ic\/1024x1024\/p0hq72jn.png.webp)\n\n## More stories about being stuck at airports\nHassan al-Kontar spoke to the BBC about being stranded at Kuala Lumpur airport in 2018\n\n- ['I'm stranded at Madrid Airport'](https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/business-55711849)\n\n[Fake Covid test certificate gang foiled in France](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-europe-54839434)\n\n[Plans for huge Charles de Gaulle terminal scrapped](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-europe-56021908)\n\n[France](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/topics\/c302m85qenyt)\n\n[London Heathrow Airport](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/topics\/c680y55m121t)\n\n[Algeria](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/topics\/cp7r8vglgyet)\n\n[Paris](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/topics\/cxw7q5zm562t)\n\n***\nRelated\n\n[French national jailed for 10 years in Azerbaijan for spying](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/c2lr5j84gd1o)\n\n[Far-left and far-right gains throw French mainstream parties into a quandary](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/c8r17knnz5vo)\n\n[French police detain brothers over 'lethal and antisemitic' plot](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/ckgl5d3d3kjo)\n\n***\nMore from the BBC\n\n[3 days ago ![A man with a white beard and black polar-neck stands on the left and on the right a woman with brown hair and glasses](https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/images\/ic\/1024x1024\/p0hq72jn.png.webp) French vote tests polarised electorate with right hoping to win control of Paris The highest-profile contest is for the mayorship of Paris - which has been under left-wing control for 25 years. 3 days ago](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/cdxzzqye9w0o)\n\n[25 Feb 2026 ![Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost wearing ornate ceremonial robes with gold embroidery stands with both arms raised. He is smiling and wearing glasses.](https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/images\/ic\/1024x1024\/p0hq72jn.png.webp) Pope Leo to visit four African countries in April This is the first time that a pope will visit Algeria, whose population is mostly Muslim. 25 Feb 2026](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/cvg1vdgl3ymo)\n\n[16 Feb 2026 ![Jack Lang talks to employees of the Arab World Institute in Paris during a farewell ceremony following his resignation earlier this month. Photo: 16 February 2026](https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/images\/ic\/1024x1024\/p0hq72jn.png.webp) French police conduct searches over ex-minister Jack Lang's links to Epstein Police have raided Paris' prestigious Arab World Institute, which was headed by Lang until his resignation earlier this month. 16 Feb 2026](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/c8eg7rllgl7o)\n\n[14 Feb 2026 ![Hundred of padlocks on a blue bridge. A couple walk over the top](https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/images\/ic\/1024x1024\/p0hq72jn.png.webp) Are 'love locks' a threat to historic bridges? A Sheffield Hallam University study found two million people have attached a love lock to a bridge. 14 Feb 2026](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/c79513801x0o)\n\n[13 Feb 2026 ![Multiple people walking towards Heathrow Terminal 5 carrying luggage as one person walks away from the terminal](https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/images\/ic\/1024x1024\/p0hq72jn.png.webp) Heathrow not crowded but people walk in 'wrong place', says boss Chief executive Thomas Woldbye says Europeans and Brits keep \"crashing into each other\" because they walk on different sides. 13 Feb 2026](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/c4g52q0pl5yo)\n***\n- [Home](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/)\n- [News](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news)\n- [Sport](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/sport)\n- [Business](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/business)\n- [Technology](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/technology)\n- [Health](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/health)\n- [Culture](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/culture)\n- [Arts](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/arts)\n- [Travel](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/travel)\n- [Earth](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/future-planet)\n- [Audio](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/audio)\n- [Video](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/video)\n- [Live](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/live)\n- [Weather](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/weather)\n- [BBC Shop](https:\/\/shop.bbc.com\/)\n- [BritBox](https:\/\/www.britbox.com\/?utm_source=bbc.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=footer)\n\nBBC in other languages\n\n### The BBC is in multiple languages\n#### Read the BBC In your own language\n[Oduu Afaan Oromootiin](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/afaanoromoo)\n\n[Amharic ዜና በአማርኛ](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/amharic)\n\n[Arabic عربي](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/arabic)\n\n[Azeri AZƏRBAYCAN](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/azeri)\n\n[Bangla বাংলা](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/bengali)\n\n[Burmese မြန်မာ](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/burmese)\n\n[Chinese 中文网](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/zhongwen\/simp)\n\n[Dari دری](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/dari)\n\n[French AFRIQUE](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/afrique)\n\n[Hausa HAUSA](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/hausa)\n\n[Hindi हिन्दी](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/hindi)\n\n[Gaelic NAIDHEACHDAN](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/naidheachdan)\n\n[Gujarati ગુજરાતીમાં સમાચાર](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/gujarati)\n\n[Igbo AKỤKỌ N’IGBO](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/igbo)\n\n[Indonesian INDONESIA](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/indonesia)\n\n[Japanese 日本語](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/japanese)\n\n[Kinyarwanda GAHUZA](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/gahuza)\n\n[Kirundi KIRUNDI](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/gahuza)\n\n[Korean 한국어](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/korean)\n\n[Kyrgyz Кыргыз](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/kyrgyz)\n\n[Marathi मराठी](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/marathi)\n\n[Nepali नेपाली](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/nepali)\n\n[Noticias para hispanoparlantes](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/mundo)\n\n[Pashto پښتو](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/pashto)\n\n[Persian فارسی](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/persian)\n\n[Pidgin](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/pidgin)\n\n[Polish PO POLSKU](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/polska)\n\n[Portuguese BRASIL](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/portuguese)\n\n[Punjabi ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਖ਼ਬਰਾਂ](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/punjabi)\n\n[Russian НА РУССКОМ](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/russian)\n\n[Serbian NA SRPSKOM](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/serbian\/lat)\n\n[Sinhala සිංහල](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/sinhala)\n\n[Somali SOMALI](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/somali)\n\n[Swahili HABARI KWA KISWAHILI](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/swahili)\n\n[Tamil தமிழில் செய்திகள்](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/tamil)\n\n[Telugu తెలుగు వార్తలు](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/telugu)\n\n[Thai ข่าวภาษาไทย](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/thai)\n\n[Tigrinya ዜና ብትግርኛ](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/tigrinya)\n\n[Turkish TÜRKÇE](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/turkce)\n\n[Ukrainian УКРАЇНСЬКA](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/ukrainian)\n\n[Urdu اردو](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/urdu)\n\n[Uzbek O'ZBEK](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/uzbek)\n\n[Vietnamese TIẾNG VIỆT](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/vietnamese)\n\n[Welsh NEWYDDION](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/cymrufyw)\n\n[Yoruba ÌRÒYÌN NÍ YORÙBÁ](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/yoruba)\n\nFollow BBC on:\n\n- [Terms of Use](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/pages\/terms-of-use)\n- [Subscription Terms](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/pages\/subscription-terms)\n- [About the BBC](https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/aboutthebbc)\n- [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/pages\/privacy-policy)\n- [Cookies](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/usingthebbc\/cookies\/)\n- [Accessibility Help](https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/accessibility\/)\n- [Contact the BBC](https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/contact)\n- [Advertise with us](https:\/\/advertising.bbcstudios.com\/)\n- [Do not share or sell my info](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/usingthebbc\/cookies\/how-can-i-change-my-bbc-cookie-settings\/)\n- [BBC.com Help & FAQs](https:\/\/help.bbc.com\/hc\/)\n- [Content Index](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/pages\/content-index)\n- [Set Preferred Source](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/future\/article\/20260128-how-to-make-google-put-trusted-sources-up-top-when-you-search)\n\nCopyright 2026 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. [**Read about our approach to external linking.**](https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/editorialguidelines\/guidance\/feeds-and-links)","attrs_readable_markdown":"18 March 2021\n\nHugh SchofieldBBC News, Paris\n\n![BBC Two children in the group appealed to the Algerian president to help them go home](https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/5F66\/production\/_117622442_photo-2021-03-17-17-43-57.jpg.webp)BBC\n\nTwo children in the group appealed to the Algerian president to help them go home\n\n**Twenty-six Algerians returning home from the UK have been stuck in transit at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris for the past three weeks.**\n\nThe group, which includes two young girls and a 75-year-old woman, flew from Heathrow Airport on 26 February.\n\nIn Paris they were told by Air Algeria they could not continue their journey, reportedly because of Covid measures.\n\nThey have since been living rough in the transit area of Terminal 2 at Charles de Gaulle.\n\nThe Algerian embassy in Paris told the BBC that the airline had informed everyone ahead of the flight that their tickets had been cancelled after the UK-Kent Covid variant was detected in Algeria on 25 February.\n\nAccording to one of the passengers, some members of the group have British passports while others are UK residents or have a valid UK visa. One woman's visa had expired, he said, and another was being sent back to Algeria as an illegal immigrant.\n\nThey all had urgent reasons to fly back, with some visiting sick relatives.\n\nSince their arrival at the airport they have been sleeping on chairs or on the floor, eating food provided by volunteers. Another member of the group is being treated in hospital.\n\nState-owned Air Algeria initially gave them food vouchers, but stopped when they refused the company's offer to fly them back to London.\n\n'I gave up my flat'\n\nThey have access to showers in a zone of the airport where there is a hotel, but they are charged €20 (£17; \\$24) to use them. They also receive a doctor's visit every day.\n\n![Living conditions are basic](https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/images\/ic\/1024x1024\/p0hq72jn.png.webp)\n\nThe group have had to sleep on chairs or on the floor\n\nOne man, who left his job as a chef in the town of Eastbourne on the south coast of England, told the BBC that they had taken an early morning flight on 26 February and all had tickets from London through to Algiers, as well as the required negative Covid test.\n\nWhen they tried to board the connecting flight at Charles de Gaulle they were turned back, he said, because of the UK variant.\n\n\"Everyone has important personal reasons to go to Algeria. My wife is there and has had Covid. I gave up my flat and job. Otherwise we'd go back to the UK,\" said the man, who wished to remain anonymous.\n\n![Sympathisers have been providing food for the group](https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/images\/ic\/1024x1024\/p0hq72jn.png.webp)\n\nVolunteers have been providing food for the group\n\nTheir situation has become more and more desperate, but they have vowed to stay put until the Algerian authorities let them travel.\n\n\"It is miserable here. How long can you keep sleeping on the floor before you crack? Two weeks, three weeks, four?\"\n\nClosing of Algeria's borders\n\nThe Algerian embassy said its consul had met the group at the airport on 2 March \"to tell them it was necessary for them to go back to their place of residence until the borders re-opened\". The passengers were told that the government in Algiers had decided to close the borders on 28 February and that no exception would be made, it said.\n\nThe airline had been willing to pay for hotel fees and tickets back to the passengers' places of residence but the group had remained at the airport, the embassy spokesperson said.\n\nFor a year Algeria has run a very strict border policy, suspending most air and sea connections and stranding tens of thousands of its nationals abroad.\n\nThis has angered many in the Algerian diaspora who say that ordinary people are suffering while those with the right connections can still travel to and fro.\n\nThe French airports authority has said it is doing its best to help the Algerians, although the group are not their responsibility.\n\n\"It is a precarious situation, but we have no say over what happens to them,\" a spokesperson said. \"It is down to the Algerian authorities and Air Algeria.\"\n\n![line](https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/images\/ic\/1024x1024\/p0hq72jn.png.webp)\n\nMore stories about being stuck at airports\n\nHassan al-Kontar spoke to the BBC about being stranded at Kuala Lumpur airport in 2018\n\n- ['I'm stranded at Madrid Airport'](https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/business-55711849)","meta_canonical":null}

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Meta Title	Paris airport: Algerian passengers from UK stranded for weeks
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Boilerpipe Text	18 March 2021 Hugh Schofield BBC News, Paris BBC Two children in the group appealed to the Algerian president to help them go home Twenty-six Algerians returning home from the UK have been stuck in transit at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris for the past three weeks. The group, which includes two young girls and a 75-year-old woman, flew from Heathrow Airport on 26 February. In Paris they were told by Air Algeria they could not continue their journey, reportedly because of Covid measures. They have since been living rough in the transit area of Terminal 2 at Charles de Gaulle. The Algerian embassy in Paris told the BBC that the airline had informed everyone ahead of the flight that their tickets had been cancelled after the UK-Kent Covid variant was detected in Algeria on 25 February. According to one of the passengers, some members of the group have British passports while others are UK residents or have a valid UK visa. One woman's visa had expired, he said, and another was being sent back to Algeria as an illegal immigrant. They all had urgent reasons to fly back, with some visiting sick relatives. Since their arrival at the airport they have been sleeping on chairs or on the floor, eating food provided by volunteers. Another member of the group is being treated in hospital. State-owned Air Algeria initially gave them food vouchers, but stopped when they refused the company's offer to fly them back to London. 'I gave up my flat' They have access to showers in a zone of the airport where there is a hotel, but they are charged €20 (£17; $24) to use them. They also receive a doctor's visit every day. The group have had to sleep on chairs or on the floor One man, who left his job as a chef in the town of Eastbourne on the south coast of England, told the BBC that they had taken an early morning flight on 26 February and all had tickets from London through to Algiers, as well as the required negative Covid test. When they tried to board the connecting flight at Charles de Gaulle they were turned back, he said, because of the UK variant. "Everyone has important personal reasons to go to Algeria. My wife is there and has had Covid. I gave up my flat and job. Otherwise we'd go back to the UK," said the man, who wished to remain anonymous. Volunteers have been providing food for the group Their situation has become more and more desperate, but they have vowed to stay put until the Algerian authorities let them travel. "It is miserable here. How long can you keep sleeping on the floor before you crack? Two weeks, three weeks, four?" Closing of Algeria's borders The Algerian embassy said its consul had met the group at the airport on 2 March "to tell them it was necessary for them to go back to their place of residence until the borders re-opened". The passengers were told that the government in Algiers had decided to close the borders on 28 February and that no exception would be made, it said. The airline had been willing to pay for hotel fees and tickets back to the passengers' places of residence but the group had remained at the airport, the embassy spokesperson said. For a year Algeria has run a very strict border policy, suspending most air and sea connections and stranding tens of thousands of its nationals abroad. This has angered many in the Algerian diaspora who say that ordinary people are suffering while those with the right connections can still travel to and fro. The French airports authority has said it is doing its best to help the Algerians, although the group are not their responsibility. "It is a precarious situation, but we have no say over what happens to them," a spokesperson said. "It is down to the Algerian authorities and Air Algeria." More stories about being stuck at airports Hassan al-Kontar spoke to the BBC about being stranded at Kuala Lumpur airport in 2018 'I'm stranded at Madrid Airport'
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The group, which includes two young girls and a 75-year-old woman, flew from Heathrow Airport on 26 February. In Paris they were told by Air Algeria they could not continue their journey, reportedly because of Covid measures. They have since been living rough in the transit area of Terminal 2 at Charles de Gaulle. The Algerian embassy in Paris told the BBC that the airline had informed everyone ahead of the flight that their tickets had been cancelled after the UK-Kent Covid variant was detected in Algeria on 25 February. According to one of the passengers, some members of the group have British passports while others are UK residents or have a valid UK visa. One woman's visa had expired, he said, and another was being sent back to Algeria as an illegal immigrant. They all had urgent reasons to fly back, with some visiting sick relatives. Since their arrival at the airport they have been sleeping on chairs or on the floor, eating food provided by volunteers. Another member of the group is being treated in hospital. State-owned Air Algeria initially gave them food vouchers, but stopped when they refused the company's offer to fly them back to London. ## 'I gave up my flat' They have access to showers in a zone of the airport where there is a hotel, but they are charged €20 (£17; \$24) to use them. They also receive a doctor's visit every day. ![Living conditions are basic](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1024x1024/p0hq72jn.png.webp) The group have had to sleep on chairs or on the floor One man, who left his job as a chef in the town of Eastbourne on the south coast of England, told the BBC that they had taken an early morning flight on 26 February and all had tickets from London through to Algiers, as well as the required negative Covid test. When they tried to board the connecting flight at Charles de Gaulle they were turned back, he said, because of the UK variant. "Everyone has important personal reasons to go to Algeria. My wife is there and has had Covid. I gave up my flat and job. Otherwise we'd go back to the UK," said the man, who wished to remain anonymous. ![Sympathisers have been providing food for the group](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1024x1024/p0hq72jn.png.webp) Volunteers have been providing food for the group Their situation has become more and more desperate, but they have vowed to stay put until the Algerian authorities let them travel. "It is miserable here. How long can you keep sleeping on the floor before you crack? Two weeks, three weeks, four?" ## Closing of Algeria's borders The Algerian embassy said its consul had met the group at the airport on 2 March "to tell them it was necessary for them to go back to their place of residence until the borders re-opened". The passengers were told that the government in Algiers had decided to close the borders on 28 February and that no exception would be made, it said. The airline had been willing to pay for hotel fees and tickets back to the passengers' places of residence but the group had remained at the airport, the embassy spokesperson said. For a year Algeria has run a very strict border policy, suspending most air and sea connections and stranding tens of thousands of its nationals abroad. This has angered many in the Algerian diaspora who say that ordinary people are suffering while those with the right connections can still travel to and fro. The French airports authority has said it is doing its best to help the Algerians, although the group are not their responsibility. "It is a precarious situation, but we have no say over what happens to them," a spokesperson said. "It is down to the Algerian authorities and Air Algeria." ![line](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1024x1024/p0hq72jn.png.webp) ## More stories about being stuck at airports Hassan al-Kontar spoke to the BBC about being stranded at Kuala Lumpur airport in 2018 - ['I'm stranded at Madrid Airport'](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-55711849) [Fake Covid test certificate gang foiled in France](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54839434) [Plans for huge Charles de Gaulle terminal scrapped](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56021908) [France](https://www.bbc.com/news/topics/c302m85qenyt) [London Heathrow Airport](https://www.bbc.com/news/topics/c680y55m121t) [Algeria](https://www.bbc.com/news/topics/cp7r8vglgyet) [Paris](https://www.bbc.com/news/topics/cxw7q5zm562t) * Related [French national jailed for 10 years in Azerbaijan for spying](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2lr5j84gd1o) [Far-left and far-right gains throw French mainstream parties into a quandary](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8r17knnz5vo) [French police detain brothers over 'lethal and antisemitic' plot](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgl5d3d3kjo) * More from the BBC [3 days ago ![A man with a white beard and black polar-neck stands on the left and on the right a woman with brown hair and glasses](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1024x1024/p0hq72jn.png.webp) French vote tests polarised electorate with right hoping to win control of Paris The highest-profile contest is for the mayorship of Paris - which has been under left-wing control for 25 years. 3 days ago](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdxzzqye9w0o) [25 Feb 2026 ![Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost wearing ornate ceremonial robes with gold embroidery stands with both arms raised. He is smiling and wearing glasses.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1024x1024/p0hq72jn.png.webp) Pope Leo to visit four African countries in April This is the first time that a pope will visit Algeria, whose population is mostly Muslim. 25 Feb 2026](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg1vdgl3ymo) [16 Feb 2026 ![Jack Lang talks to employees of the Arab World Institute in Paris during a farewell ceremony following his resignation earlier this month. Photo: 16 February 2026](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1024x1024/p0hq72jn.png.webp) French police conduct searches over ex-minister Jack Lang's links to Epstein Police have raided Paris' prestigious Arab World Institute, which was headed by Lang until his resignation earlier this month. 16 Feb 2026](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8eg7rllgl7o) [14 Feb 2026 ![Hundred of padlocks on a blue bridge. A couple walk over the top](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1024x1024/p0hq72jn.png.webp) Are 'love locks' a threat to historic bridges? A Sheffield Hallam University study found two million people have attached a love lock to a bridge. 14 Feb 2026](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c79513801x0o) [13 Feb 2026 ![Multiple people walking towards Heathrow Terminal 5 carrying luggage as one person walks away from the terminal](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1024x1024/p0hq72jn.png.webp) Heathrow not crowded but people walk in 'wrong place', says boss Chief executive Thomas Woldbye says Europeans and Brits keep "crashing into each other" because they walk on different sides. 13 Feb 2026](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g52q0pl5yo) * - [Home](https://www.bbc.com/) - [News](https://www.bbc.com/news) - [Sport](https://www.bbc.com/sport) - [Business](https://www.bbc.com/business) - [Technology](https://www.bbc.com/technology) - [Health](https://www.bbc.com/health) - [Culture](https://www.bbc.com/culture) - [Arts](https://www.bbc.com/arts) - [Travel](https://www.bbc.com/travel) - [Earth](https://www.bbc.com/future-planet) - [Audio](https://www.bbc.com/audio) - [Video](https://www.bbc.com/video) - [Live](https://www.bbc.com/live) - [Weather](https://www.bbc.com/weather) - [BBC Shop](https://shop.bbc.com/) - [BritBox](https://www.britbox.com/?utm_source=bbc.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=footer) BBC in other languages ### The BBC is in multiple languages #### Read the BBC In your own language [Oduu Afaan Oromootiin](https://www.bbc.com/afaanoromoo) [Amharic ዜና በአማርኛ](https://www.bbc.com/amharic) [Arabic عربي](https://www.bbc.com/arabic) [Azeri AZƏRBAYCAN](https://www.bbc.com/azeri) [Bangla বাংলা](https://www.bbc.com/bengali) [Burmese မြန်မာ](https://www.bbc.com/burmese) [Chinese 中文网](https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp) [Dari دری](https://www.bbc.com/dari) [French AFRIQUE](https://www.bbc.com/afrique) [Hausa HAUSA](https://www.bbc.com/hausa) [Hindi हिन्दी](https://www.bbc.com/hindi) [Gaelic NAIDHEACHDAN](https://www.bbc.com/naidheachdan) [Gujarati ગુજરાતીમાં સમાચાર](https://www.bbc.com/gujarati) [Igbo AKỤKỌ N’IGBO](https://www.bbc.com/igbo) [Indonesian INDONESIA](https://www.bbc.com/indonesia) [Japanese 日本語](https://www.bbc.com/japanese) [Kinyarwanda GAHUZA](https://www.bbc.com/gahuza) [Kirundi KIRUNDI](https://www.bbc.com/gahuza) [Korean 한국어](https://www.bbc.com/korean) [Kyrgyz Кыргыз](https://www.bbc.com/kyrgyz) [Marathi मराठी](https://www.bbc.com/marathi) [Nepali नेपाली](https://www.bbc.com/nepali) [Noticias para hispanoparlantes](https://www.bbc.com/mundo) [Pashto پښتو](https://www.bbc.com/pashto) [Persian فارسی](https://www.bbc.com/persian) [Pidgin](https://www.bbc.com/pidgin) [Polish PO POLSKU](https://www.bbc.com/polska) [Portuguese BRASIL](https://www.bbc.com/portuguese) [Punjabi ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਖ਼ਬਰਾਂ](https://www.bbc.com/punjabi) [Russian НА РУССКОМ](https://www.bbc.com/russian) [Serbian NA SRPSKOM](https://www.bbc.com/serbian/lat) [Sinhala සිංහල](https://www.bbc.com/sinhala) [Somali SOMALI](https://www.bbc.com/somali) [Swahili HABARI KWA KISWAHILI](https://www.bbc.com/swahili) [Tamil தமிழில் செய்திகள்](https://www.bbc.com/tamil) [Telugu తెలుగు వార్తలు](https://www.bbc.com/telugu) [Thai ข่าวภาษาไทย](https://www.bbc.com/thai) [Tigrinya ዜና ብትግርኛ](https://www.bbc.com/tigrinya) [Turkish TÜRKÇE](https://www.bbc.com/turkce) [Ukrainian УКРАЇНСЬКA](https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian) [Urdu اردو](https://www.bbc.com/urdu) [Uzbek O'ZBEK](https://www.bbc.com/uzbek) [Vietnamese TIẾNG VIỆT](https://www.bbc.com/vietnamese) [Welsh NEWYDDION](https://www.bbc.com/cymrufyw) [Yoruba ÌRÒYÌN NÍ YORÙBÁ](https://www.bbc.com/yoruba) Follow BBC on: - [Terms of Use](https://www.bbc.com/pages/terms-of-use) - [Subscription Terms](https://www.bbc.com/pages/subscription-terms) - [About the BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc) - [Privacy Policy](https://www.bbc.com/pages/privacy-policy) - [Cookies](https://www.bbc.com/usingthebbc/cookies/) - [Accessibility Help](https://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/) - [Contact the BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/contact) - [Advertise with us](https://advertising.bbcstudios.com/) - [Do not share or sell my info](https://www.bbc.com/usingthebbc/cookies/how-can-i-change-my-bbc-cookie-settings/) - [BBC.com Help & FAQs](https://help.bbc.com/hc/) - [Content Index](https://www.bbc.com/pages/content-index) - [Set Preferred Source](https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260128-how-to-make-google-put-trusted-sources-up-top-when-you-search) Copyright 2026 BBC. 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Readable Markdown	18 March 2021 Hugh SchofieldBBC News, Paris ![BBC Two children in the group appealed to the Algerian president to help them go home](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/5F66/production/_117622442_photo-2021-03-17-17-43-57.jpg.webp)BBC Two children in the group appealed to the Algerian president to help them go home Twenty-six Algerians returning home from the UK have been stuck in transit at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris for the past three weeks. The group, which includes two young girls and a 75-year-old woman, flew from Heathrow Airport on 26 February. In Paris they were told by Air Algeria they could not continue their journey, reportedly because of Covid measures. They have since been living rough in the transit area of Terminal 2 at Charles de Gaulle. The Algerian embassy in Paris told the BBC that the airline had informed everyone ahead of the flight that their tickets had been cancelled after the UK-Kent Covid variant was detected in Algeria on 25 February. According to one of the passengers, some members of the group have British passports while others are UK residents or have a valid UK visa. One woman's visa had expired, he said, and another was being sent back to Algeria as an illegal immigrant. They all had urgent reasons to fly back, with some visiting sick relatives. Since their arrival at the airport they have been sleeping on chairs or on the floor, eating food provided by volunteers. Another member of the group is being treated in hospital. State-owned Air Algeria initially gave them food vouchers, but stopped when they refused the company's offer to fly them back to London. 'I gave up my flat' They have access to showers in a zone of the airport where there is a hotel, but they are charged €20 (£17; \$24) to use them. They also receive a doctor's visit every day. ![Living conditions are basic](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1024x1024/p0hq72jn.png.webp) The group have had to sleep on chairs or on the floor One man, who left his job as a chef in the town of Eastbourne on the south coast of England, told the BBC that they had taken an early morning flight on 26 February and all had tickets from London through to Algiers, as well as the required negative Covid test. When they tried to board the connecting flight at Charles de Gaulle they were turned back, he said, because of the UK variant. "Everyone has important personal reasons to go to Algeria. My wife is there and has had Covid. I gave up my flat and job. Otherwise we'd go back to the UK," said the man, who wished to remain anonymous. ![Sympathisers have been providing food for the group](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1024x1024/p0hq72jn.png.webp) Volunteers have been providing food for the group Their situation has become more and more desperate, but they have vowed to stay put until the Algerian authorities let them travel. "It is miserable here. How long can you keep sleeping on the floor before you crack? Two weeks, three weeks, four?" Closing of Algeria's borders The Algerian embassy said its consul had met the group at the airport on 2 March "to tell them it was necessary for them to go back to their place of residence until the borders re-opened". The passengers were told that the government in Algiers had decided to close the borders on 28 February and that no exception would be made, it said. The airline had been willing to pay for hotel fees and tickets back to the passengers' places of residence but the group had remained at the airport, the embassy spokesperson said. For a year Algeria has run a very strict border policy, suspending most air and sea connections and stranding tens of thousands of its nationals abroad. This has angered many in the Algerian diaspora who say that ordinary people are suffering while those with the right connections can still travel to and fro. The French airports authority has said it is doing its best to help the Algerians, although the group are not their responsibility. "It is a precarious situation, but we have no say over what happens to them," a spokesperson said. "It is down to the Algerian authorities and Air Algeria." ![line](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1024x1024/p0hq72jn.png.webp) More stories about being stuck at airports Hassan al-Kontar spoke to the BBC about being stranded at Kuala Lumpur airport in 2018 - ['I'm stranded at Madrid Airport'](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-55711849)
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