Writhing mass of RATS that 'jump for the throat' shock Paris as surging numbers of the vermin gather near tourists spots

  • The shocking video shows scores of rats massing in a dustbin in centre of Paris  
  • A council worker says there’s been 'a proliferation of rats' bordering River Seine
  • Another video taken in July shows notorious gang using a rat during ATM theft

Horrific footage of a mass build-up of savage rats who ‘jump for the throat’ has caused shock in Paris.

Le Parisien, the French capital’s local paper, on Sunday published a video of scores of the creatures massing in a dustbin.

It was taken on the banks of the River Seine, in the centre of all the most popular tourist spots, including Notre Dame Cathedral and the Orsay art gallery.

Le Parisien, the French capital’s local paper, on Sunday published a video of scores of the creatures massing in a dustbin

Le Parisien, the French capital’s local paper, on Sunday published a video of scores of the creatures massing in a dustbin

It was taken on the banks of the River Seine, in the centre of all the most popular tourist spots, including Notre Dame Cathedral and the Orsay art gallery

It was taken on the banks of the River Seine, in the centre of all the most popular tourist spots, including Notre Dame Cathedral and the Orsay art gallery

A £1.4million extermination programme was launched last September, with areas closed off during the killings, but it has by no means proved successful

A £1.4million extermination programme was launched last September, with areas closed off during the killings, but it has by no means proved successful

‘For the past year, there’s been a proliferation of rats in all areas bordering the Seine,’ a council worker says on the video.

‘A colleague told me that a rat jumped at his throat, and another towards his arm. To my knowledge, there haven’t been any bites for the moment, but we shouldn’t be waiting for a tragedy.’

A £1.4million extermination programme was launched last September, with areas closed off during the killings, but it has by no means proved successful.

There are now so many rats that Roma crime gangs have been seen using dead ones to intimidate tourists while trying to steal from them.

Another video taken in July shows a notorious gang of cashpoint thieves waving a dead animal in a distressed woman’s face.

‘We’re going backwards,’ says the unidentified council worker in the latest video. ‘For both Parisians and tourists, who come to visit the most beautiful city in the world.’

He was particularly critical of businesses and individuals who leave bags of rubbish in the streets, making it easy for the rodents to bite their way inside.

‘The restaurants have about fifteen skips at their disposal, yet some still leave rubbish outside,’ he says on the video.

Another video taken in July shows a notorious gang of cashpoint thieves waving a dead animal in a distressed woman’s face 

Another video taken in July shows a notorious gang of cashpoint thieves waving a dead animal in a distressed woman’s face 

It was shot on December 9 near the Pont Royal, one of the oldest bridges across the River Seine.

Waste disposal workers were emptying dustbins kept in padlocked cages, and opened one to reveal the chilling scene.

The rats inside were all gorging on waste food, springing up and down as they clambered for space.

Tourists including hundreds from Britain regularly report sightings of the creatures all over the city, including gardens around the Louvre, and even scuttling along restaurant floors.

Council spokesman Mao Peninou said: ‘All the departments involved have faced the problem head on.’

Paris is the most popular tourist city in the world, and the biggest foreign visitor group are the British. 

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