Looters seize on massive French protests to raid and vandalise shops

Looters in several French cities on Saturday broke into stores ranging from a high-end luxury brand to a bakery, on the sidelines of cost-of-living protests, witnesses and authorities said.

In Paris, near the République square, the front window of a skincare brand came crashing down, with looters tossing beauty products to dozens of people massing outside.

Looters also threw mobile phones into the crowd after breaking into a telecommunications shop.

The main monument in Republique was covered in graffiti, with pavings tones ripped up from its feet, and a bar called “La Barrique” was ablaze.

Youths broke into a supermarket nearby, grabbing alcohol bottles and drink cans to hurl at police officers, another reporter said.

In the second-largest city of Marseille, angry protesters vandalised dozens of shops, targeting luxury brand Hermès as well as others stores selling jewellery, clothes, makeup, household appliances and even bread.

The fire brigade said it had intervened to put out a fire that had started at a shoe shop.

In the northern city of Lille, shops were vandalised, with looters in particular breaking into an Apple Store in the city centre, Socialist mayor Arnaud Deslandes said.

Several stores were looted in the southern city of Nice, including sportswear outlets and a motorbike dealership.

Purchasing power in France has dwindled since 2024, while the price of fuel has soared since the start of the US-Iran war earlier this year.

As France gears up for elections to replace President Emmanuel Macron next year, public anger has mounted in recent weeks over perceived police brutality against high-school student protests.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)