Annecy's mayor criticizes police absence during a protest, as shops were vandalized and looted without intervention.
Mayor criticizes police presence during protest
The mayor of Annecy, Antoine Armand, voiced concerns about the low number of police officers and gendarmes present during a demonstration against rising living costs in the city on October 17. He described the situation as a "massive, evident insufficiency" in law enforcement coverage during the event.Protest turns violent in city center
During the demonstration, several shops in the city center were damaged, including a Lacoste store located at 18 rue Sommeiller. In a video shared online, individuals wearing black clothing and masks were seen breaking the shop's windows and trying to steal items from the store.No police intervention observed
The video showed that the individuals involved in the vandalism were not stopped by law enforcement. This lack of intervention has raised concerns about the safety of businesses and the effectiveness of security measures during public demonstrations.CCI offers support to affected businesses
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Haute-Savoie (CCI) has pledged to assist the owners of damaged shops. The organization stated that its teams are helping affected businesses with their first steps and connecting them with relevant government services.Mayor vows to prevent future incidents
Antoine Armand emphasized that it is "out of the question" for such events to happen again. He warned that without additional security measures, similar incidents could occur during the next mobilization against rising living costs.
