'How are we supposed to recover?': Shopkeepers react to looting and destruction across France
Video. French shopkeepers are struggling to come to terms with the destruction left by a night of rioting and looting, with some fearing for the future of their businesses and employees.
Updated: 19/10/2026 - 19:55 GMT+2
France is reeling after violent clashes and looting during nationwide protests over the cost of living and school conditions. In Paris, Lille, Lyon, Marseille and other cities, damaged shops, smashed windows and burnt debris marked the aftermath.
Shopkeepers condemned the destruction, saying it traumatised staff and threatened family-run businesses, while others stressed that violence undermined the protesters' cause.
Cleanup crews and residents worked to clear the streets as the country assessed the damage from one of its worst episodes of unrest in recent years. Watch the video for more.
