A viral video shows French police taking shoes from a store during protests, sparking accusations of looting, but officials say it was part of a lawful investigation.
Mobilization against cost of living in France
During a mobilization against the cost of living on October 17, a video from Limoges, the capital of the Haute-Vienne department, went viral on the internet. The footage showed motorcycle officers retrieving what appeared to be a pair of shoes from a store and placing them in the side compartment of their vehicle.Public reaction to the video
The video sparked significant discussion on social media, with some users expressing outrage. One user wrote, "After the cops disguised as vandals, the cops who pillage shops calmly." Another user sarcastically asked, "The looters in action... what is the police doing?"Explanation from authorities
According to a statement from the Limoges prosecutor's office, published two days after the incident, the two police officers were acting within the framework of a judicial intervention. They were ordered by the judicial police officer to seize items immediately accessible from the shop window for an investigation into aggravated theft.Clarification from police and store manager
The national police confirmed on their X account that the police did not loot stores in Limoges. They emphasized that the items were later returned to the store. This was corroborated by the store manager, who confirmed the return of items, including the white sneakers visible in the video, to several media outlets including Le Parisien, France 3, and Le Populaire du Centre.Similar accusations in Marseille
According to BFMTV, similar misleading accusations were made against police officers in Marseille.
