Authored by Etienne Fauchaire via The Epoch Times,
Shop owners in Paris are bracing for a new weekend of far-left protests against the rising cost of living, after last week's demonstrations devolved into violence, looting, and arson across France.
Riot police stand in formation beside an armored vehicle at Place Vauban in Paris during far-left protests on Oct. 13, 2026. Etienne Fauchaire/The Epoch TimesIn the capital, 451 shops were vandalized on Oct. 17 and 18, including 228 that were looted, according to the City of Paris. The government counts about 3,000 businesses hit nationwide.
On Oct. 22, nearly every store along the Champs-Élysées was barricading its storefront with metal shutters, security grilles, or wooden boards, as bewildered tourists looked on, The Epoch Times observed. Chanel, Lacoste, and Louis Vuitton all had been targeted by looters last week.
Near the Place de la République, workers have been screwing plywood panels over windows and doors, while posters on the boards invite residents to join a neighborhood WhatsApp group against break-ins.
Shops were not the only targets on Oct. 17. In Paris, individuals also forced their way into residential buildings, The Epoch Times witnessed.
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In a letter sent on Oct. 21 to Paris's local elected officials, reported by France Info, Police Prefect Patrice F
