A couple’s romantic trip to Paris was ruined when police blew up their van

A couple’s romantic getaway to Paris was rather spoiled when French police mistook their van for a terror threat and blew it up.

A controlled explosion was carried out on the vehicle belonging to Louis Cole, from Faversham, Kent, who had taken his girlfriend to the French capital for the weekend.

The 27-year-old roofer parked the van outside a church before the couple went sight-seeing, but when they returned to the space the vehicle had disappeared.

Police in Paris have been on high alert since 130 people were killed in terrorist attacks there on November 13, 2015.

Security was tight at the weekend as Parisians voted in their country’s presidential election.

MORE: Entire beach washed away three decades ago has reappeared thanks to freak tides
MORE: Oops! Driver ends up perched on steps after taking wrong turn following sat nav

Mr Cole and his girlfriend eventually tracked the van down to a compound, where they were told police had carried out a controlled explosion on the vehicle.

The operation below a hole in the roof of the van and shattered all of its windows.

‘We drove to Paris on the Friday and the car parks were all so expensive as the van is quite tall,’ Mr Cole said.

‘We found the spot outside the church and parked up there thinking it would be all right.

‘When we came back, the van was gone, and we initially believed it had just been towed away.

‘When we arrived at the compound to pick it up, we were told what had happened and couldn’t believe it.

‘There is a mass at the church on the Sunday and people had reported it as looking suspicious.

‘When police arrived, they found a passport in the driver’s door which apparently made them more suspicious and they believed it was a terror threat.’

Mr Cole said he is awaiting an apology and compensation for the damage from the French authorities.