Some 1,500 shops and retailers damaged in French protests: trade group

Protesters break windows of a French food company 'Picard' shop during a demonstration against the "high cost of living", in Paris on October 17, 2026 as part of a nationwide call for mobilisation bringing together various groups expressing their anger: former "Yellow Vest", secondary school and university students, climate activists and even farmers. After weeks of student protests, France faces broader, nationwide demonstrations on October 17, 2026 over the cost of living, setting up a potentially fraught six months heading into a presidential election. A police source told AFP that authorities estimated nearly 200,000 people could take part, with 40,000 in Paris. (Photo by GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT / AFP)

Paris, France (AFP): Around 1,500 shops and retailers were damaged in French protests over the weekend, with many of them looted, the head of a group representing the sector said Sunday.

The cost to the establishments will run to "several hundreds of millions of euros", Alexandre Bompard, president of the Retail and Trade Federation, told LCI television, adding it was too early to give an exact figure.- AFP