Retail Leaders Condemn Looting of Paris Luxury Stores

Protesters looted and damaged luxury stores across Paris and other French cities on Saturday during demonstrations against the rising cost of living, affecting an estimated 1,500 shops nationwide. The unrest, which involved students and Yellow Vests activists, targeted boutiques including Burberry, Celine, Lacoste, and Louis Vuitton. Retail executives condemned the violence, with Sephora closing its entire French network after significant damage and reports of staff facing violent confrontations. French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the "troublemakers" and "criminals" responsible. The violence occurred ahead of Art Basel Paris, which is proceeding with heightened security, while unions have called for further strikes on November 5.