Masked groups target luxury boutiques and electronics retailers as demonstrations over rising living costs turn violent across major French cities.

Protests against rising living costs across France descended into violence on Saturday, October 17, with stores belonging to Apple, Louis Vuitton and Hermès among the businesses looted. Demonstrations in several cities were marred by smashed shop windows, arson, vandalism and clashes with police, leaving businesses damaged and public buildings targeted.

The violence spread across major urban centres, including Paris, Marseille, Bordeaux and Lille. Masked individuals broke into shops and damaged property as authorities struggled to contain unrest during the nationwide demonstrations.

By late Saturday, the number of arrests had reached 1,200 nationwide, according to AFP. The Interior Ministry also reported that 150 police officers had been injured.

Apple and Louis Vuitton Stores Targeted in Bordeaux

Bordeaux was among the cities where prominent retail businesses came under attack. French newspaper Le Parisien, citing AFP, reported that Apple and Louis Vuitton stores were among the establishments targeted.

Masked groups also looted several shops along Rue Sainte-Catherine, one of the city’s busy shopping streets. The incidents affected retailers beyond luxury fashion, adding to concerns over the scale of the disruption to commercial areas.

In Lille, an Apple Store was looted, AFP reported. Meanwhile, a Hermès boutique in Marseille was targeted, according to regional news outlet Maritima.

The incidents involving the three high-profile brands formed part of a broader wave of looting that affected businesses across multiple French cities.

Supermarkets, Pharmacies and Public Buildings Also Hit

The unrest was not limited to luxury stores and electronics retailers. According to AFP, dozens of businesses, including supermarkets, pharmacies, clothing shops and other retail outlets, were looted during the demonstrations.

Paris witnessed some of the most visible scenes of violence, with masked individuals smashing shop windows and setting parked cars on fire. Police responded with tear gas and water cannon as clashes intensified.

Public buildings were also affected. 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 attacks on commercial premises and public infrastructure added to the disruption across the country, turning demonstrations over the cost of living into a wider law-and-order challenge.

Arrests Rise From 272 to 1,200

The French Interior Ministry initially reported 272 arrests nationwide by 3 pm on Saturday. However, AFP later reported that the total had climbed to 1,200 by late evening.

The authorities also reported 150 injured police officers, highlighting the severity of the clashes.

The rising arrest count reflected the spread of violence across several cities during a day of demonstrations that drew substantial crowds. The reported figures also showed how the situation escalated between the afternoon and late evening.

Macron Warns Those Responsible Will Face Prosecution

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the vandalism and looting, warning that those responsible would face legal consequences.

In a post on X late Saturday, Macron said those who vandalised property, attacked administrative offices and businesses, or engaged in looting, including at town halls, would be prosecuted and punished.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu also criticised what he described as the demonstrations’ “violence of extreme intensity.”

The government’s response came as authorities dealt with damage to businesses, public buildings and vehicles across the affected cities.

Disagreement Over the Number of Protesters

Estimates of participation in the nationwide demonstrations differed between the French authorities and the CGT trade union.

According to AFP, the Interior Ministry estimated that approximately 550,000 people took part in demonstrations across France. The CGT put the number at 800,000.

While the estimates varied, both figures indicated that the protests drew hundreds of thousands of participants. The demonstrations, organised amid concerns over rising living costs, were overshadowed in several cities by looting, fires and confrontations with law enforcement.

With arrests climbing and police officers injured, the violence became a central focus of the nationwide unrest, alongside the economic concerns that brought demonstrators onto the streets.

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