A protester in Paris tried to slip past a police barricade by hiding inside a large cardboard box, but the plan fell apart when an officer spotted the box approaching and calmly blocked it with a shield.
In the footage, which has been widely shared online, the man shuffles forward under his makeshift cover, hoping to slip past the officers unnoticed. He didn’t get far.
The clip quickly went viral, with many viewers comparing the stunt to video games. Gamers likened it to the stealth series Metal Gear Solid, whose hero famously hides under a cardboard box to sneak past guards, and to Fortnite, where players can hide in a similar way. “Bro really thought he was Solid Snake with that cardboard box,” one commenter wrote.
The lighthearted moment stands out against weeks of unrest in France. Since October 17, protest days have been marked by violence, looting and hundreds of arrests across the country. The demonstrations began over the high cost of living and strained public services.
