French protests see looters raid shops from Paris to Nice

Hundreds of thousands of protesters across France on Saturday were joined by looters who raided and vandalized shops, ranging from bakeries to tech stores, amid demonstrations against rising living costs. In Paris, looters broke into a skincare brand and a telecommunications shop, throwing products to crowds, while a bar was set ablaze and a supermarket was raided for items to hurl at police. Similar vandalism hit Marseille, Lille, and Nice, targeting stores like Hermès and an Apple Store. The unrest comes as French purchasing power has declined since 2024 and fuel prices have soared due to the US-Iran war, with public anger also mounting over perceived police brutality against student protests ahead of next year's presidential election.