Protesters in Nîmes turned peaceful demonstrations into chaos, damaging shops, cars, and infrastructure as police struggled to contain the unrest.
Demonstrators move through Nîmes
A group of demonstrators began their march in Nîmes at 2 pm from the Jardins de la Fontaine, moving along several streets before reaching the prefecture. The route included the quai de la Fontaine, the boulevard Victor-Hugo, the arenas, and the avenue Feuchères.Dispersal and escalation
After reaching the prefecture, the demonstrators dispersed, with many heading under the bus station ramp and joining the ring road near the 7 Collines area. It was there that tensions increased, leading to incidents later in the day.Damage and disruptions
By the end of the day, shop windows were targeted under the bus station ramp and at the 7 Collines shopping center. Damage extended to roundabouts near Ville Active, and several vehicles were damaged on the avenue Maréchal-Juin. The police, already understaffed, struggled to manage the situation, and the Nîmes-Ouest toll was closed around 5 pm for safety.Stores most affected
The following day, four stores in Nîmes were identified as the most affected by the events. These included the FootKorner store on the avenue Général-Perrier, two Carrefour Express supermarkets in the city center, and the Lidl at the 7 Collines. The manager of the Lidl could not be reached for comment.Merchants reflect on the events
A merchant in the city center who was not affected described remaining vigilant but not overly concerned. The manager of a Carrefour City store on the rue Émile-Jamais said they were not impacted, though he was alerted late in the day about a looted Carrefour on the rue de la République. He emphasized that his store was not affected.
