Luxury boutiques and stores looted during violent protests in France

Dateline: 18 October 2026 — Violent protests that swept across France on 18 October turned into widespread vandalism, arson and mass looting, with masked demonstrators targeting luxury boutiques, supermarkets, bakeries and electronics stores in several cities.

Police and reporters described raids on shops belonging to major global brands — Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Rolex and Apple — where shelves were emptied and high-value goods taken. In Paris, protesters set barricades on fire and clashed with security forces while masked groups vandalised shops and restaurants.

Looting in multiple cities

In Marseille dozens of stores were ransacked; the Hermès boutique was among those reported looted. In Lille, the city’s mayor Arno Desland said looters broke into the Apple store in the city centre. Bordeaux saw shopfronts smashed at outlets including Apple, Louis Vuitton and Hermès, while Nice reported thefts at sports shops and a motorcycle showroom.

Authorities and media also reported that in several towns demonstrators forced their way into supermarkets and grabbed alcohol and other goods; bottles and cans were thrown at police during some incidents. Officials said about 1,200 people were arrested in connection with the unrest.

Protesters have linked their actions to anger over the rising cost of living and state spending; however, the violent episodes and organised looting overshadowed the demonstrations, leaving stretched city centres with damage to property and empty luxury store displays.

Photo: press material from the event