McDonald’s ransacked and wrecked as stores, restaurants suffer from violence and rioting

Cost-of-living demonstrations in Paris escalated into riots and looting on Saturday, damaging or destroying restaurants, cafés, wine shops and supermarkets. The unrest matters because it disrupted businesses and public safety, injured a café owner’s mother and prompted curfews in two places.

A McDonald’s near Gare de l’Est had smashed windows and extensive damage inside; a man and his dog reportedly drove about 20 intruders out. Franprix, Monoprix, Picard and Carrefour City shops were among the grocery stores targeted, while a nearby Nicolas wine shop was destroyed and a café near Place de la République burned out. A news crew was assaulted while reporting, and several European governments advised travellers to avoid large crowds and take care in France.