French riots hit at least 3,000 businesses; insurance losses put at up to 1.2bn euros

Riots and looting that followed protests across France have affected at least 3,000 businesses, according to Korean outlets citing French officials. Commerce Minister Serge Papin said an initial count showed at least 3,000 businesses nationwide were affected, and the government said it would provide emergency financial and employment support to the firms concerned. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said on 19 October that night curfews had been ordered in parts of Paris, Nice and Lille. Chosun Ilbo reported that the curfew, which covered areas of Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, Lille and Nice, ran for a second consecutive day through the night of 20 October. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]

The protests began over living costs and a lack of school or public-sector funding, and Newsis said they had started in September. Chosun Ilbo reported that 550,000 people protested nationwide on 17 October, more than double the 200,000 the police had expected. It said far-left groups attacked public offices before the march began, tying up police, while groups of young people and minors who had gathered through social media looted shops. Authorities said more than 2,500 people had been arrested, and Lecornu told parliament on 20 October that many more arrests would follow, particularly of those who stole goods. [ 3 , 4 , 6 , 8 ]

Citing the Financial Times, Newsis and ZDNet Korea reported that six masked people tried to break the window of a Louis Vuitton store on Place Vendôme in Paris with a road barrier, but the special glass held. A Ralph Lauren window nearby was broken and a Kenzo store was looted. The same reports said Louis Vuitton and Hermès stores in Marseille were looted, a Burberry store in Paris was attacked, and JD Sports, about 20 Sephora stores and an Apple store in Lille were hit. Chosun Ilbo said Carrefour lowered its annual earnings target after about 50 of its stores were raided on the first day, with a hit to profitability of up to 200 million euros expected. A later Newsis report on a video described about 20 people attacking the Vendôme store and said it reopened the next day. [ 3 , 4 , 6 , 8 ]

Morningstar estimated insurance losses at 1.0 to 1.2 billion euros, above the 730 million euros it cited for the 2023 French riots. Chosun Ilbo said AXA and other major insurers extended the deadline for filing claims from 5 days to 30. A Chosun Ilbo summary said large riots have occurred every year since 2023, but a decree under which the state shares the losses, as with natural disasters, has not yet come into force. French ministers also met Vinted, Amazon, eBay, Meta and TikTok on 19 October to discuss removing suspicious listings and identifying sellers. [ 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 ]

Kukmin Ilbo reported that explanations for the escalation include police use of force against minors, as the New York Times reported, and the lack of institutions to mediate conflict, as an Edinburgh University professor told Foreign Policy. It said French prosecutors and the police inspectorate were investigating at least 34 suspected cases of police misconduct. The Financial Times, as reported by Newsis, said the usual coordination between unions and police had not taken place. Lecornu said the rioters were part of organised far-left groups and blamed Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who denied inciting violence. Marine Le Pen blamed the far left and Mélenchon, while Raphaël Glucksmann said the government's measures had been insufficient. Chosun Ilbo reported that protesters have announced new rallies from 24 October and that the Senate is due to discuss a bill on 27 October to make participants liable for damage caused by others. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]