Apple, Louis Vuitton and Hermès were among the high-profile brands caught up in violent protests across France on Saturday, October 17, as demonstrations over rising living costs spiralled into looting, arson and clashes with police.Masked groups broke into shops, smashed windows and damaged buildings in several cities, including Paris, Bordeaux, Marseille and Lille. What began as nationwide demonstrations over the cost of living soon took a more violent turn, leaving businesses damaged and police struggling to contain the unrest.
Luxury stores and Apple shops among the targets
Some of the country’s best-known retail names found themselves in the middle of the chaos.According to French newspaper Le Parisien, citing Agence France-Presse (AFP), Louis Vuitton and Apple stores were among the businesses targeted in Bordeaux. Masked individuals reportedly looted several shops along Rue Sainte-Catherine, one of the city’s busiest shopping streets.In Lille, an Apple Store was also looted, AFP reported. Meanwhile, a Hermès boutique in Marseille came under attack, according to local news outlet Maritima.The damage wasn’t limited to luxury fashion and electronics. Supermarkets, pharmacies, clothing shops and other businesses were also targeted across several cities, according to AFP.For retailers, the scenes were particularly troubling. Shopfronts were smashed, merchandise was taken and businesses in busy commercial areas were left dealing with the fallout.
Paris sees fires and clashes with police
Paris was among the cities hit by the unrest, with masked protesters damaging shopfronts, setting parked cars on fire and clashing with police.
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Officers used tear gas and water cannon as they tried to bring the situation under control.The violence also spread beyond shopping districts. In Lyon, a tourist office was set on fire, while town halls in Marseille and Lille were broken into and vandalised. In Limoges, a fire caused extensive damage to the city’s historic town hall.The scale of the destruction prompted a major police response. France’s Interior Ministry initially reported 272 arrests nationwide by 3 pm on Saturday. AFP later reported that the number had climbed to around 1,200 by late evening, with 150 police officers injured.
Macron warns those responsible will face punishment
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the vandalism and looting, making it clear that those responsible would face legal consequences.Writing on X late Saturday, Macron said: “Those who carried out vandalism, attacked administrative offices or businesses, or carried out looting – even in our town halls, will be prosecuted and punished.”Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu also criticised what he described as violence of “extreme intensity” during the demonstrations.The government’s response came as officials and unions reported different estimates of the crowds involved. According to AFP, the Interior Ministry put nationwide participation at around 550,000 people, while the CGT trade union estimated that 800,000 had taken part.
Protests over living costs overshadowed by violence
Rising living costs were at the heart of the demonstrations, drawing large crowds onto the streets across France. But the looting, fires and confrontations with police quickly became a major part of the story.From luxury boutiques in Bordeaux and Marseille to electronics stores in Lille, businesses across the country found themselves caught up in the unrest.The events also left public buildings damaged and police officers injured, prompting strong condemnation from France’s political leadership.For the retailers affected, the immediate concern will be the damage to their stores and the disruption to business. For the authorities, the challenge is to deal with those responsible for the violence while responding to the wider discontent that brought demonstrators onto the streets in the first place.
