Night of violence lingers over Paris as one Chinese cafe owner counts the costs of protest

Two days have passed since the chaos and looting on Saturday, but the smell of smoke still lingers in the air of Rue Beaurepaire in Paris, likely from the burned rubbish and charred bicycles among the shattered shopfronts. La Barrique, a local bar-tabac combining a cafe, bar, and tobacco shop, was among the most damaged, burned down by rioters.

Aline Li, the middle-aged Chinese immigrant owner, was there overseeing workers boarding up the ruins. Despite her cuts and bruises from the attack, she began to smile and greet residents checking in on her, stating, "I’m fine, what matters is that you guys are also OK."

Li had seen the protest at nearby Place de la Republique turn violent, and along with her family, they boarded up the shop and hoped to wait out the turmoil. However, they heard shouts of "Le tabac, le tabac, le tabac!" before the rioters lifted the gates and began smashing windows and doors. The family decided not to resist as they believed they could not stop them, and the shop was eventually torched. Li was shocked to see children among the looters, with the youngest estimated to be around 12 years old.

The shop was eventually torched, leaving Li one of many business owners having to defend their own properties while the police struggled to intervene. Audelia Sitbon, the owner of a looted pharmacy, expressed her concern over a patient's treatment worth €13,000 (US$14,000) that was lost in the fire. French Commerce Minister Serge Papin reported that at least 3,000 businesses were directly affected by the riots, with Carrefour CEO Alexandre Bompard estimating the damage at "several hundred million euros."

The French government admitted to its mismanagement of the situation, with Interior Minister Laurent Nunez resigning due to the high level of damages and the inadequate police presence. Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin acknowledged an intelligence failure that left police unable to do their job effectively. Facing the damages, the government declared partial curfews for Paris and some other major cities.

President Emmanuel Macron's televised speech on Sunday was criticized by major political parties, and calls for further protests on the next three Saturdays are expected, indicating the situation in France is unlikely to calm down soon.