Paris shopkeepers brace for October 24 protest after looting spree

Paris shopkeepers are bracing for the October 24 demonstration, fearing a repeat of the looting that hit 450 businesses on October 17-18, with many boarding up windows and emptying stores of valuables. Optician François Batiste will clear his shop and close for the day, expecting to be targeted. Other merchants, including tattoo and jewelry shops, are installing plywood and organizing neighborhood patrols via messaging groups, while the police prefect warned protection cannot be guaranteed. Some business owners remain calm, citing no past incidents or low-value inventory. One florist lamented the growing tension, saying "it's war every time there's a gathering" and that it must stop.