'Urgent shopping' amid chaos: 1,200 arrested as France stores looted, vandalised

France's interior ministry estimated that 550,000 people had taken part in marches across the country. The CGT union, which participated in the demonstrations, put the figure at 800,000.

What began as a collective expression of frustration in France has now left even those caught in the same struggle standing on opposite sides. Looters smashed shop windows, ransacked stores and attacked shopkeepers in Paris on Saturday as protests over the cost of living descended into violence across France. Videos circulating on social media captured the unrest, showing people being handled by the crowd after objecting to looting and vandalising shops. In one video, a French woman who had joined the protests shouted, “This isn’t the cause” as other demonstrators began looting stores. The protesters then could be seen pushing her aside, telling her to shut up and claiming they had “urgent shopping” to do. Another video showed a man getting hit by protesters after an attempt to protect his shop. The shopkeeper could be seen getting mocked and beaten as his business was vandalised. The footage drew harsh reactions online, with one post describing the attackers as “terrorists” and saying, “Europe is dying.” French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said late Saturday that 1,200 people had been arrested and 150 police officers injured as the unrest spread. Police used tear gas and water cannon against protesters who threw projectiles and set off fireworks. The violence erupted on the sidelines of nationwide demonstrations against rising living costs, drawing hundreds of thousands of people and adding to political uncertainty ahead of France's presidential election in six months.

Looters strip shops of goods

In Paris, masked men wearing black hoodies forced open metal shutters and cleared shelves of cigarettes, sunglasses, clothes, jewellery and food. Looters have been leaving supermarkets with bags filled with cakes, fruit juice and alcohol, according to a report by news agency AFP. A jewellery shop across the street was targeted for its antique clocks, while entire display racks of sunglasses disappeared from a street corner. Inside the stores, looters searched for cash registers and smashed them on the floor, sometimes discovering that they were empty. The destruction left streets littered with broken glass and debris. Near the iconic Place de la République in central Paris, burning vehicle can be seen sending thick smoke into the air.

'They must have some pretty deep anger'

The scenes of destruction unfolded alongside an unusual contrast in the capital, where restaurants, hotels and residential buildings were largely spared. Some Parisians continued their usual Saturday lunches as looters wreaked havoc on nearby streets, while others watched from their apartments. Perched on a pavement terrace with a colleague, 38-year-old art teacher Alma said she had “never seen anything like it”. Alma and her companion had joined an unsuccessful march earlier in the day to reach the French president's residence, the Élysée Palace. Despite the violence, they said they “understand” the revolt. “I understand why people might be upset, but I think damaging property is fine, as long as we don't physically harm anyone,” Alma said. Jules, a 29-year-old civil servant, watched the unrest from a safe distance. “What a sight,” he said, “They must have some pretty deep anger. They're a part of society who doesn't feel integrated.” While acknowledging the right to protest, Jules said the looters were “undermining their own goals”. “Just look at the state of the street,” he said as quoted by AFP. Paris mayor Emmanuel Gregoire said entire streets “have been devastated” by the violence. He distinguished between the “fundamental” right to protest and what he called “unacceptable” violence.

Conflicting estimates of protest turnout

The unrest followed demonstrations against rising living costs, which came after weeks of student protests and heightened political uncertainty. France's interior ministry estimated that 550,000 people had taken part in marches across the country. The CGT union, which participated in the demonstrations, put the figure at 800,000. Police confronted protesters who threw projectiles and aimed fireworks at officers. The clashes left dozens of police officers injured and prompted mass arrests.