"We Don't Trust the Police": French Shopkeepers Prepare to Defend Themselves Ahead of Weekend Protests

More than 3,000 Stores Looted During Last Weekend's Protests
Demand for Tear Gas Sprays at Paris Gun Shop Rises Eight- to 10-Fold

French shopkeepers are preparing to defend themselves, buying tear gas and other personal defense equipment ahead of protests scheduled for this weekend.

On the 17th (local time), a police officer extinguishes a bicycle set on fire during a protest in Paris, France. Paris, France = Reuters-Yonhap News.

According to the British daily The Times on Oct. 22 (local time), the number of customers looking for tear gas spray devices at a gun shop in central Paris, where looting occurred last weekend, has recently risen to around eight to 10 times the previous level.

The products customers are mainly seeking are tear gas spray devices priced at around 50 euros (approximately 75,000 won) and pistol-shaped tear gas launchers costing 500 euros (approximately 750,000 won). In France, spray devices that release tear gas to impair a person's breathing and vision can be purchased without a special permit.

The Times reported that shopkeepers are buying this equipment because distrust of the police has spread, and that they have taken matters into their own hands to protect their stores rather than wait for police protection.

One person who runs a sneaker shop in Paris said he had confronted looters with an iron bar last weekend but was ultimately forced to retreat. He said he plans to join other shopkeepers in the area to respond this weekend.

On Oct. 17 and 18, student protests in France calling for improvements to educational conditions grew into nationwide demonstrations over the cost of living and escalated into large-scale riots. More than 3,000 stores, including luxury outlets such as Dior, Celine and Hermes, were looted, and more than 2,500 people were arrested.

The French government also acknowledged that police had effectively lost control as thousands of stores were looted across the country last weekend.

Protesters reportedly broke into ordinary homes as well as stores last weekend, and demand for tear gas spray devices has also risen among local residents.

Meanwhile, the French government plans to deploy 20% more police this weekend than last weekend. It has also banned large gatherings around major tourist sites and government institutions, while imposing curfews and business closures. Protests have also been restricted in Marseille, Lyon and Nice. The government reportedly plans to impose tight security on Avenue Montaigne and Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore, home to some of France's best-known luxury and fashion brands.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.