Broken windows and wooden panels covered shopfronts in Marseille on Monday (October 19) as the city was recovering from a weekend of rioting and looting.

Protests in France followed weeks of student demonstrations with occasional bouts of street violence, rocking the country six months ahead of its next presidential election and increasing pressures over a weak economy and surging debt.

Marseille, one of the cities worst hit by the riots, put in place a ban on gatherings and demonstrations for most of Monday, taking effect from midday until 8pm local time.

European governments have advised citizens travelling to France to avoid large crowds and exercise caution.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Criminals thrive when honest people are absent, says looted retailer in Marseille

VIDEO SHOWS: DAMAGE TO SHOPS AND STANDS IN MARSEILLE / SOUNDBITES FROM SHOPKEEPERS

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: MARSEILLE, FRANCE (OCTOBER 19, 2026)(REUTERS - Access all)

1. MEN WORKING ON SHOP WITH SHATTERED WINDOWS

2. WOODEN PANELS SETUP OVER SHOPS WINDOWS

3. SHOP OPEN WITH BROKEN WINDOW

4. MANAGER OF TWO CLOTHING STORES IN MARSEILLE, GERARD NOUCHI (BLUE SHIRT) SPEAKING TO PEOPLE IN FRONT OF HIS LOOTED SHOP

5. (SOUNDBITE) (French) MANAGER OF TWO CLOTHING STORES IN MARSEILLE, GERARD NOUCHI, SAYING:

“On Saturday, we were looted by young people from the neighbourhoods, probably from the northern districts. There were a lot of them, at least 5 to 6,000 people. They trashed everything, broke things, insulted us. It was like a real tornado, with a background of understaffed national police—they weren't enough.”

6. BROKEN GLASS ON GROUND IN FRONT OF SHOP

7. SHOPS COVERED BY WOODEN PANELS

8. (SOUNDBITE) (French) MANAGER OF TWO CLOTHING STORES IN MARSEILLE, GERARD NOUCHI, SAYING:

"And a bit of solidarity from the people of Marseille too. Meaning that the ground needs to be occupied. The criminals are present because honest people are absent. The silent majority is too absent. They need to be present, show they exist, and make sure it's not the law of the strongest or the law of numbers."

9. MAN AND WOMAN STANDING IN FRONT OF SHOP COVERED BY WOODEN PANELS

10. PEOPLE PASSING BY SHOP WITH BROKEN WINDOW

11. BROKEN WINDOWS ON THE GROUND

12. (SOUNDBITE) (French) BUILDING RENOVATION WORKER, OLIVIER VOISIN, SAYING:

"Look, it's simple, yes, it was really... Not devastated, looted. Looted, alright, even in the stockrooms."

13. MEN WORKING OUTSIDE SHOP / SHOP SIGN READING "KIKO MILANO"

14. (SOUNDBITE) (French) BUILDING RENOVATION WORKER, OLIVIER VOISIN, SAYING:

"The panels have been put up, it's secured. Now we have to order the glass"

15. SHOPS COVERED BY WOODEN PANELS

16. DAMAGED RETAIL KIOSK / PEOPLE WALKING IN STREET

17. MAN STOOD OUTSIDE SHOP WITH BROKEN GLASS AND WOODEN PANELS

18. PEOPLE AND VEHICLES ON STREET