Shopkeepers in Paris are counting heavy losses after looting and rioting swept the area around Place de la Republique on Saturday. Hassan Rashdul, who runs a mobile phone shop near the square, said he has lost at least 70,000 euros ($78,600) worth of stock. His insurance will not cover the loss because theft was not included in his policy.
The French government has responded with financial pledges and a criminal investigation. Officials also said stolen goods were already appearing for sale online within hours of the raids, prompting a warning to digital platforms.
Government pledges support for affected businesses
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has said the government will cover employee salaries at about 3,000 businesses across France that were affected by the rioting. A dedicated support fund will also help businesses restock, the government announced.
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Lecornu has ordered more than 200 investigators to find those responsible for the riots and looting. For shop owners such as Rashdul, who says the damage has left his business struggling just to stay open, the support measures arrive against a difficult backdrop.
Officials press online platforms over stolen goods
Digital minister Anne Le Henanff said on X that stolen items from the weekend were being offered for sale on certain platforms. She said she expected those platforms to remove the listings without delay.
Le Henanff held a meeting with representatives of six platforms, attended by officials from the Interior and Justice ministries. According to the commerce ministry, the companies invited were:
- Vinted
- Amazon
- eBay
- Leboncoin
- Meta
- TikTok
French online retail association Fevad was also invited. Le Henanff added that the platforms would have to work closely with state authorities so that people reselling stolen goods can be prosecuted.
Shopkeepers rebuild with help from neighbourhood customers
Around Rashdul’s shop, mini-markets, opticians, phone stores and cafes show the effects of last weekend’s violence. Some have been boarded up. Others, where nothing remains to steal, have been left open to the damp October weather by their owners.
Rashdul said he has also seen a more hopeful side. Local customers and people from the neighbourhood have set up appeals on social media to help shopkeepers. “They really make you want to try again,” he said, adding that people were helping him rebuild and return to work.
Rashdul moved to France from Bangladesh and spent 10 years building his business. He describes himself as a proud French citizen who respects the right to protest, but he is worried about the impact of violence on businesses like his and on France as a whole. He noted that another protest has been announced for next Saturday.
“If that ends up in more looting, then that’s hard on France and damaging for its international reputation,” he said.
