Paris seethes as violent protests and looting shake the capital ahead of presidential election

More than 3,000 stores damaged and 2,700 arrested in unrest that has exposed deep social and political divisions

By LineZotpaper

Published23 October 2026

Read Time3 min

Sources3 outlets

Paris is reeling from a wave of violent protests and looting that has left a trail of destruction across the city, with smashed storefronts, torched cars, and burnt kiosks in central squares. Government estimates put the damage at more than 3,000 stores nationwide, with at least 2,700 people arrested. The unrest, which began as a student protest over school funding, has widened into a broader revolt against the government, the police, and the political establishment, raising tensions ahead of France's presidential election early next year.

The streets around the Place de la Republique, normally filled with shoppers and café patrons, now bear the scars of Saturday night's rampage. Business consultant Raphael Christophe, visiting from Limoges, said he felt "revolted" by what he saw. "They want to steal, mainly, and break everything," he told this masthead. "They are very young. So it is very hard, at the beginning of their lives, to re-educate them."

Store owners told of being helpless as looters struck. Kevin, manager of Manga Story on Boulevard Voltaire, said he watched the theft of valuable Pokémon cards and Japanese figurines via his shop's CCTV while on the metro. He estimated losses at €1 million. When he called police, he was told they were too busy elsewhere. "One hundred per cent" angry at the police, he said, and believed President Emmanuel Macron should resign.

Another shopkeeper, Jahirul Azam, told Le Monde he was assaulted by 20 thieves who took cash, 70 phones, and 20 MacBooks. Police did not intervene for five hours, he said. At the café La Barrique, co-owner Aline Li reported that boys as young as 12 or 13 looted alcohol, a computer, and a phone before setting the business alight. "They filmed themselves doing it and they were laughing," she told The Times.

Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said Wednesday that 95 per cent of those arrested were men, 70 per cent adults, and that some detainees were as young as 13. Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon described the looters as "les racailles", a term with racial overtones that left-wing politicians accused her of using like the far-right National Rally's Marine Le Pen.

The protests have become a political battleground. Some demonstrations are championed by left-wing candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon, but political analysts see the breakdown in law and order benefiting Le Pen in the presidential race. Macron has warned of foreign interference in social media coverage of the riots.

This masthead witnessed clashes between black-clad youths and police on Sunday, with tear gas and rock-throwing continuing into the night. Some protesters waved Palestinian and Algerian flags, and the slogan "ACAB" (All Cops Are Bastards) was spray-painted on the streets.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The unrest threatens to destabilise France ahead of a presidential election that will shape the country's direction on immigration, law and order, and social policy.
Similar protest movements have swelled across Europe, from Spain to Belgium, suggesting a broader crisis of faith in governments struggling with low growth and high debt.
The violence has deepened the divide between those who see it as a criminal insurrection and those who view it as a symptom of neglected youth and systemic inequality.

Background

The protests began last month as student rallies over school funding, then expanded as unions joined to protest the cost of living. Political activists escalated the violence, culminating in the burning of the town hall in Limoges, allegedly by a left-wing radical. The unrest now involves organised looters, anarchist "black blocs", and opportunistic thieves. France has faced previous waves of protest, including the gilets jaunes movement, but the scale and coordination of this outbreak have shocked the country.

Key Perspectives

Victims and shop owners: They feel abandoned by police and betrayed by the government. Kevin and Azam both expressed anger at police inaction, and many hold Macron responsible for failing to restore order. Government and law enforcement: Justice Minister Darmanin has emphasised the arrests and the young age of many detainees. Spokesperson Bregeon's use of "les racailles" signals a tough line, but has inflamed accusations of racism from the left. Left and right activists: The left, through Mélenchon, sees the protests as legitimate anger against inequality. The far right, led by Le Pen, uses the chaos to argue for stricter immigration and law-and-order policies. Centrists warn against treating the unrest with racial framing.

What to Watch

The presidential election early next year: the unrest could shift voter sentiment decisively toward the far right or fuel a left-wing backlash.
Further protests planned for this weekend: will Macron deploy more police or troops? The government has already sent in additional forces.
The debate over immigration and integration: the ethnic and racial undertones of the government's language could deepen long-term social fractures.

Sources

The violence of the streets of Paris looked like rage. It revealed a society that will take years to heal · Brisbane Times - Latest News
The violence of the streets of Paris looked like rage. It revealed a society that will take years to heal · WA Today - Latest News
The violence of the streets of Paris looked like rage. It revealed a society that will take years to heal · Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 8 supported.

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SupportedParis is experiencing violent protests and looting ahead of the presidential election.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The breakdown in order can easily spread anxiety about social decline and turn voters to the right. When students began rallying across France last month... More important, however, is the election early next year to choose his replacement.”
Partly supportedMore than 3,000 stores were damaged nationwide.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “More than 3000 stores were damaged or robbed in the chaos nationwide, according to government estimates.”
SupportedAt least 2,700 people were arrested.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said on Wednesday that at least 2700 people were arrested”
Partly supportedThe unrest began as a student protest over school funding and widened into a broader revolt.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “When students began rallying across France last month, they were seen as peaceful protesters who wanted more school funding. Some unions joined the movement to complain about the cost of living. Then political activists chose to escalate the violence.”
SupportedRaphael Christophe said he felt “revolted” and that the young people wanted to steal and break everything.Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““Revolted,” he says. ... “They want to steal, mainly, and break everything,” he tells me.”
SupportedKevin estimated his losses at €1 million.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “He has lost rare Pokemon cards and other products of great value, and he estimates the losses at €1 million.”
SupportedKevin said police told him they were too busy elsewhere when he called.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “When he called the police, he was told they were too busy countering rioters and looters elsewhere.”
SupportedJahirul Azam said 20 thieves assaulted him and took cash, 70 phones and 20 MacBooks; police did not intervene for five hours.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “One electronics store owner, Jahirul Azam, was assaulted by 20 thieves who smashed their way into the shop and took cash, 70 phones and 20 MacBooks. “For five hours, the police did not intervene,” he told Le Monde .”
Partly supportedBoys as young as 12 or 13 looted items at La Barrique before setting it alight.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “One café, La Barrique, was set alight by the crowd. The co-owner, Aline Li, said some of the looters were boys of 12 or 13. They took alcohol, a computer, a phone, and left everything in flames.”
SupportedDarmanin said 95 per cent of those arrested were men, about 70 per cent were adults, and some detainees were as young as 13.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said on Wednesday that at least 2700 people were arrested and that 95 per cent of them were men. About 70 per cent were adults, but some of those detained were as young as 13.”
Partly supportedBregeon called the looters “les racailles,” and left-wing politicians accused her of using language like Marine Le Pen.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon used a loaded term on Tuesday to describe the looters: “les racailles”. ... Members of the Ecologist and Generations parties accused her of talking like Le Pen.”
SupportedThe breakdown in law and order is benefiting Marine Le Pen politically.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “For now, the political benefit is flowing to Marine Le Pen, the right-wing leader of National Rally.”