Marseille Business Owner and Paris Rabbi Detail Night of Looting in France
A Jewish business owner in Marseille and Paris's Chief Rabbi describe nights of looting and civil unrest across France, as police focus on protecting government buildings.
Looting and Chaos in Marseille
Following a day of protests across France, a Jewish business owner in central Marseille described a night of looting and vandalism. Speaking anonymously out of fear for his business, the merchant told C14 that while shops were being broken into and plundered, police forces focused entirely on protecting government institutions.
France had braced for the demonstrations beforehand, deploying police officers equipped with batons and tear gas to major commercial areas. However, according to the witness, streets lined with retail shops completely lacked police presence.
Reports of looting in central Marseille began circulating as early as Saturday. Upon the conclusion of the Sabbath, a colleague whose shop had been ransacked called the merchant to inspect the damage. Venturing into the city center with three friends, he witnessed scenes far worse than anticipated.
"They were in small groups – five, ten, twelve youths – not large crowds," he described. "We simply drove past the store without stepping out and continued our tour. During our entire patrol, we did not see a single police officer. All officers were concentrated in front of the courthouse and government buildings."
Radical Elements and Political Tensions
Later that evening, the group witnessed individuals on scooters smashing storefront windows and emptying luxury boutiques within minutes. Police hotlines reportedly went unanswered, with dispatchers telling callers that no units were available and advising them to turn to insurance.
The business owner emphasized that these acts went far beyond legitimate protests over the cost of living, noting that some rioters carried Palestinian flags. "You can demonstrate, but under no circumstances should you destroy people's life work," he stated.
Meanwhile, Rabbi Moshe Sebbag of the Grand Synagogue of Paris told C14 that Jewish life in the capital continued as usual, as synagogues and schools already operate under permanent security. He noted that French security authorities are increasingly concerned about extremist involvement, calling the unrest a broader threat to French civilization.
