‘Like we had a war’: France reels at cost of violent protests

In the aftermath of violent protests, the cost of unrest is being tallied in the three major cities of France - Paris, Lyon and Marseille. In Lyon, firefighters responded to a fire at the city's tourist office, where the facade remained blackened and smoke billowed from the building. Nearby businesses were targeted, suffering both vandalism and theft, while locals documented the destruction. Some young people even participated in the cleanup, assisting in restoring streets marred by the previous day's tumult.

Paris bore the brunt of the riots with shattered windows and damaged storefronts evident at the Les Halles shopping center, the Paris Opera and multiple major retailers such as Nike, Sephora, and Burger King. In Marseille, clean-up teams hosed down Rue Saint-Ferréol, with damaged shops, scattered shoe boxes, and debris serving as stark reminders of the unrest. The city had set up an information point to aid affected businesses, while municipal police patrolled the area to maintain order.

Across France's three largest cities, municipal workers, local shopkeepers, and volunteers embarked on the laborious task of clearing broken glass and repairing storefronts following Saturday's nationwide demonstrations against the rising cost of living. These demonstrations had unfortunately escalated into riots and looting, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.