Bangladeshi shop owner describes total loss after Paris riots destroy his business

Hassan arrived in France in 2010, worked in hospitality and eventually opened a tech and courier shop with an associate in 2016 near Place de la République. During the October 17 riots, a group of roughly 30 looters broke into the shop, threatened him with a wine bottle, and stole phones, parcels and other merchandise, while police delayed access to the area. The interior is littered with smashed phones, broken glass and empty delivery boxes, and the basement storeroom was also pillaged.

Hassan now faces ongoing rent, utility costs and employee wages while awaiting insurance assessments. A local courier and a neighbour set up a crowdfunding page that has already attracted thousands of euros in donations. The French government announced emergency aid and the ability for affected businesses to use the state-funded short-time work scheme, activité partielle.