France’s violent weekend: E-bikes torched, 3,000 shops damaged, 2,400 arrested
Paris has witnessed scenes of violence as protests over rising living costs and underfunded public services spread across France. The unrest has turned violent in several cities, with the French capital emerging as one of the main flashpoints.Amid the chaos, burning electric bikes have become a common sight on Paris streets.Black smoke and flames rose from piles of e-bikes over the weekend, while one protester was seen throwing an electric bike onto a burning car.
Videos from chaos-hit areas of the French capital showed plumes of smoke rising from the streets, with debris and charred remains scattered across the roads.
The violence has also caused major damage to shared bicycle and scooter operators, with hundreds of vehicles destroyed or damaged during the nationwide protests.
Hundreds of e-bikes and scooters damaged
Shared-mobility operator Dott told Reuters on Monday that around 300 of its electric bikes were destroyed and another 120 were severely damaged in Paris during Saturday’s protests. The company operates around 6,000 bikes in the French capital.Dott also reported that 80 vehicles, including bikes and scooters, were destroyed in Bordeaux, while 30 to 40 scooters were damaged in Lyon. The company estimated the total damage at around €400,000 ($450,000).
Another operator, Lime, said some of its shared bicycles and scooters in Paris were destroyed or damaged during the unrest. The company estimated that it had lost around 6% of its Paris fleet.Ahead of the demonstrations, Lime said it had worked with police to remove vehicles from designated protest routes. It also restricted parking and riding in several high-risk areas, adjusting the measures over the weekend as the situation developed.Smovengo, which operates Paris’s Vélib’ Métropole bike-sharing service, told Reuters that around 300 bikes from its fleet of approximately 20,000 were damaged or stolen during the weekend unrest. Unlike other shared bikes, its vehicles are kept at docking stations rather than parked freely on pavements.
Why are e-bikes catching fire during the riots?
Electric bikes often use lithium-ion batteries, which can catch fire and produce intense heat and toxic smoke.
Such fires can spread quickly, making burning e-bikes a potential safety hazard during violent protests.There is no indication that shared-bike operators were specifically targeted during the demonstrations over the cost of living and public services.However, thousands of bicycles are available across Paris, both on streets and at docking stations. This has made them easily accessible to protesters, who have used them to build barricades or set them on fire.
France sees widespread rioting and looting
France experienced some of its worst unrest in years over the weekend as protests over rising living costs and underfunded public services escalated into riots and looting.In Limoges, the town hall was set on fire, while more than 3,000 shops were looted or damaged, according to the government. Violent groups also clashed with police in several cities.Authorities arrested around 2,400 people over the weekend. Police investigators are examining online videos and images to identify those involved in looting and other acts of violence.The Macron government is also considering partial curfews in some municipalities to prevent further unrest. Officials have said police numbers will be increased, particularly if protests resume next weekend, though the government has not specified how many additional officers will be deployed.
France tightens security after weekend violence
French authorities are tightening security measures after the protests escalated into rioting, arson and looting across several cities.Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Monday that he had asked local authorities to impose limited, localised curfews to prevent further violence. President Emmanuel Macron ordered a review of security failures and rejected the resignation of Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez.The government has acknowledged shortcomings in anticipating the unrest and promised changes to policing, alongside investigations to identify those responsible for the violence.European governments have also issued travel advisories urging their citizens in France to avoid demonstrations and large gatherings amid concerns over further unrest.