Hundreds of protests are expected across France on 24 October 2026, as authorities try to prevent further civil unrest. All through the night in neighbourhoods in the centre and east of Paris, the sound of sawing, drilling and hammering rang out as wooden boards were hastily secured into place to cover windows and shop-fronts. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing The Guardian.
Businesses being boarded up included opticians, supermarkets and pharmacies as well as trainers and handbag stores.
Hundreds of shops were smashed and looted over two nights last weekend in Paris, and thousands more in cities across France, including Marseille and Bordeaux.
At a public meeting at Paris city hall this week, some shop-owners had cried as they spoke of their fears of businesses being smashed and looted again this weekend.
“I’m afraid there isn’t enough wooden board left to protect shops and the demand is making it so expensive to board up shops,” one optician near Châtelet in the city centre said. “We’ll close up and take all our stock of glasses out of the shop.”
Authorities said they are taking additional measures to prevent unrest during the mass protests. However, full details of what measures will be applied have not been provided.
The situation in France is developing alongside events in other European countries: protests and clashes have also been recorded in Italy, Albania, Belgium, Spain, Ukraine and Russia. The Guardian’s Europe live news feed indicates the widespread scale of instability in the region.
Shop-owners and residents in Paris are demanding that authorities ensure security. City officials and police representatives have promised to keep the situation under control, but the scale of the protests and their possible consequences remain unknown.
Shops were also reportedly looted in Marseille and Bordeaux during last weekend’s unrest. These events indicate deepening social tension in France.
In connection with the protests expected this weekend, Paris police have moved to an enhanced mode of operation. However, official representatives have not yet provided data on the exact number and locations of protests.
Shop-owners are complaining about the shortage and rising cost of wooden boards. As one optician employee noted, the cost of boarding up shops has risen significantly, creating an additional financial burden for small businesses.
Representatives of the French government and local authorities said they are working with security forces to stabilise the situation. However, anxiety and fear among shop-owners predominated at public meetings.
The worsening situation in Europe is not limited to protests in France. Various protests and clashes have also been recorded in Italy, Albania, Belgium, Spain, Ukraine and Russia. The Guardian correspondents are continuously reporting on the situation in these countries.
French authorities have called on citizens to remain calm and refrain from illegal actions. However, there is still no official information about the reasons for and demands of the protesters.
At the meeting at Paris city hall, shop-owners asked authorities for additional protection measures. According to them, the damage caused during last weekend’s unrest has not yet been compensated, and the threat of a new wave undermines business stability.
Currently, shops on central streets of Paris, including the Champs-Élysées, are also being boarded up. These measures must be completed before the protests begin.
How the situation in France will develop further is unknown, but tension between authorities and society has not yet decreased. The Guardian will continue to report on events promptly.