Around 550,000 people in France took to the streets on Saturday to protest against soaring inflation. What began as a protest soon turned into “extremely violent” street riots, with luxury stores like Louis Vuitton (LV) and Hermes being looted, and historical buildings set on fire.
Despite hundreds of thousands engaging in peaceful protests, some extremist groups seized the opportunity to target public buildings, loot luxury stores and supermarkets, and attack police cars and officers. The French government blamed the violence on extreme leftist groups and criminal elements inciting looting activities.
In cities like Paris, Marseille, Nice, Nantes, Bordeaux, Limoges, Lille, Toulouse, and Strasbourg, numerous stores – including supermarkets, pharmacies, luxury boutiques, clothing stores, opticians, cosmetics shops, and electronics retailers – were looted.
In Paris, Agence France-Presse reporters observed how groups of young individuals organized attacks on stores, wearing masks and gloves, first disabling surveillance cameras before smashing windows and looting inside.
In Marseille, the second-largest city in France, dozens of stores were destroyed, including luxury brands like Hermes, as well as jewelry, clothing, cosmetics, electronics, and even bread shops. The fire department reported extinguishing a blaze at a shoe store.
In Lille, located in the north of the country, several stores were vandalized. Mayor Arnaud Deslandes mentioned that an Apple retail store in the city center was also looted.
Local media LyonMag reported that in Lyon’s Presqu’île district, multiple boutiques and shops were looted during the chaos, resulting in significant losses for the businesses. Stores along President Édouard Herriot Street and surrounding areas, including Louis Vuitton, The North Face, and Jott outlets, were also targeted.
Paris Deputy Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire described how entire streets in Paris faced severe destruction. Masked young men set parked cars on fire and looted numerous stores in the city.
In cities across France, violent groups clashed with law enforcement, with buildings covered in graffiti. In Limoges, a central city hall with a 143-year history was set on fire on Saturday, causing extensive damage to the building. Regional Executive Maurice Barate described it as a “cultural heritage disaster.”
According to Reuters, Dutch entrepreneur Tije De Boer visited Paris with his children to see friends and described the scene as “like a war zone.” Due to the protests, he was forced to evacuate his hotel at Place de la République, one of the most intense conflict areas on Saturday.