Parisians are buying tear-gas canisters and pepper sprays to defend themselves and their property during protests, which are expected to continue over the weekend, the owner of a weapons shop in the French capital has said.
France was hit by its worst social unrest in years last weekend as nationwide protests over high prices and declining public services erupted into riots. A town hall was torched, shops pillaged and buildings covered in graffiti as violent groups clashed with police in cities across the country.
Police have authorised only a union demonstration in Paris on Saturday, rejecting requests for rallies lodged by France’s main student union, UNEF, and the anti-establishment Yellow Vest movement.