Brief
Riots in France spark looting of luxury stores as Dior hires private guards
More than 1,800 arrests were made as rioters smashed high‑end boutiques and a Dior flagship called in its own security team.
By Felo News Desk · Published
French riots that began as student protests have escalated into widespread looting of luxury retailers, with rioters targeting Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Apple and other high‑end stores across several cities, according to the New York Post.
What happened
On Saturday, October 17, masked crowds broke into a Louis Vuitton store in Bordeaux, while in Marseille looters set fire to a designer shoe shop and ransacked Hermès outlets. The following day, rioters smashed the windows of an Apple store in Lille and vandalised a Dior flagship in Paris. Reuters footage showed gangs of masked thugs raiding the Galeries Lafayette department store in Paris. Police reported more than 1,800 arrests nationwide and over 500 officers injured during the unrest.
What the reports add
The Post notes that Dior, lacking confidence in police protection, hired a private security crew to guard its Paris flagship, a move captured in a viral photo. It also cites a tweet from @visegrad24 showing the security team in place. The article adds that the riots have been used by various groups, including left‑wing and pro‑Palestinian activists, to push broader agendas, and that cultural sites such as the 140‑year‑old city hall in Limoges and Lyon’s tourist office were also set ablaze.
What was said
President Emmanuel Macron addressed the nation on Sunday, saying “nothing justifies” the violence and pledging to track down the looters who are “trying to bring down the Republic.” He added, “Tonight, we all feel anger and shame,” distinguishing between protesters with “legitimate demands” and those committing criminal acts.
How it came about
The unrest began several weeks ago as a student protest over education and cost‑of‑living issues, but quickly devolved into looting and riots across the country. The escalation prompted luxury brands to consider extra security measures, culminating in Dior’s decision to employ private guards after police appeared unable to contain the chaos.
Key facts
- More than 1,800 people were arrested nationwide during the riots (nypost.com)
- Dior hired private security to protect its Paris flagship store (nypost.com)
- President Emmanuel Macron condemned the violence in a televised address (nypost.com)
- Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Apple and other luxury retailers were looted in multiple cities (nypost.com)
- Over 500 police officers were reported injured during the unrest (nypost.com)
Timeline
- 2026-10-17 — Masked crowd breaks into Louis Vuitton store in Bordeaux
- 2026-10-17 — Fire breaks out in a designer shoe store in Marseille
- 2026-10-18 — Apple store vandalised in Lille; Dior flagship guarded by private security in Paris
Sources
- [1] nypost.com — originally reported as “French rioters target Louis Vuitton, Hermes and Apple stores — as lux brands hire their own guards”
