PARIS – French courts have begun handing down their first sentences following the violent riots and widespread looting on October 17 and 18, 2026. While some of the accused have been given suspended sentences or acquitted, others have been sent straight to prison. Among those jailed was a 20-year-old man caught with clothing from a looted Zara store, who received a one-year non-suspended prison sentence. The court’s decisions have sparked debate over the severity of the sentences and the quality of evidence.
Dozens of people arrested in Paris, Lyon, and Marseille appeared before judges this week, following chaos in the streets over the weekend.
French judicial authorities are using expedited proceedings to enable swift decisions just days after the unrest.
According to the newspaper Le Monde, approximately 70 cases were reviewed in Paris on Tuesday, October 20. The judgments, however, have varied significantly from case to case.
Zara store loot leads to jail time
One case attracting particular media attention involved a 20-year-old man in Lyon.
Police detained him carrying a bag of clothing from a Zara store that had been looted during the disturbances.
The man told the court he had come across the items by chance. However, Le Monde reports that police found text messages on his phone suggesting he planned to resell the stolen goods.
The court sentenced him to 12 months in prison with no possibility of suspension.
This case highlights that French courts are not simply judging suspects based on their proximity to the riots, but also considering the circumstances in which specific stolen goods were obtained and held.
Not all detainees sent to prison
Outcomes of the expedited court hearings have not been uniform.
In Paris, police arrested four young men while they were loading cosmetics into a car.
According to Austria’s Kronen Zeitung, it could not be proven that two of the men had actually entered the looted store or participated directly in its plundering.
The court acquitted those two men.
The remaining pair received six-month suspended sentences.
In another instance, a 23-year-old man was given a suspended sentence after police found several mobile phones in his possession.
The mixed results serve as a reminder that even being apprehended with suspicious items does not automatically mean all elements of an alleged crime have been proven.
Further custodial sentences in Lyon
The regional newspaper Le Progrès reported that several more suspects in Lyon appeared before court in connection with the riots.
According to its report from October 21, sentences ranged from six to fifteen months in unsuspended prison terms, in addition to suspended sentences for others.
Seven people sentenced to serve time were taken to prison immediately following the hearings.
Other suspects remain under court supervision as their cases continue.
The offenses heard in court included theft, property damage, and handling items obtained through criminal activity.
Some defendants claimed items were found on the street
One defense argument repeatedly heard during the trials was that items found on suspects had simply been picked up after looting groups had left the scene.
Courts, however, evaluated such explanations against the specific evidence provided.
Decisive factors included phone records, the location where a suspect was detained, or the circumstances under which they came into possession of certain items.
Proving the facts has emerged as one of the most challenging aspects of these rapid legal proceedings.
The large number of arrests does not necessarily mean there is equally compelling evidence in every single case.
We previously reported on the scale of unrest in France in our article “Mass protests sweep France as hundreds of thousands take to the streets.”
Prosecution describes widespread devastation
The upheaval also had a serious impact in Marseille.
Prosecutor Nicolas Bessone, quoted by Kronen Zeitung, described the scale of looting there as particularly severe.
Suspects appeared in court mainly on charges of theft and possession of stolen items.
Not all proceedings resulted in convictions.
For example, a man was acquitted after telling authorities he had filmed videos of the looting for TikTok. Available evidence did not prove his criminal responsibility.
French courts are therefore having to distinguish between individuals who actively participated in violence and those for whom criminal involvement could not be proven.
Swift verdicts raise concerns
The French government is pushing for a tough response against those responsible for property destruction and attacks during demonstrations.
Expedited legal proceedings are meant to allow cases with sufficient evidence to be adjudicated quickly.
Lawyers, however, warn of risks tied to a large volume of cases decided in a short period.
Le Monde reported on instances where defense lawyers criticized the lack of thorough investigation and pressure to reach decisions quickly.
The rapid pace of court hearings, they argue, must not take precedence over the obligation to prove an individual’s guilt.
Tension in France began even before this latest wave of looting. Aktualizovane.sk previously covered student unrest, during which police detained over 400 minors.
Arson suspect detained in Limoges after city hall fire
A separate investigation concerns a major fire at the city hall in Limoges.
The historic building suffered serious damage during Saturday night’s unrest, according to media reports.
Kronen Zeitung, citing French reports, said a 40-year-old man had been taken into custody on suspicion of involvement in the arson attack.
Reports indicate the man was already known to police from previous incidents.
However, his involvement in the arson must still be established in court; arrest alone does not prove guilt.
Further trials expected in France
The first verdicts mark only the beginning of a lengthy judicial process for cases arising from the weekend unrest.
Court proceedings will need to weigh the differing acts committed, their severity, and the individual responsibility of each defendant.
Some cases involve theft and property damage, while others concern more serious acts of violence.
It is still impossible to predict the final number of convictions or how many people will ultimately serve prison sentences.
But the first rulings have already shown that participants in the looting face the possibility of months or years behind bars. Ultimately, it will depend on what each court is able to establish for each individual defendant.
Sources: Kronen Zeitung, Le Monde, Le Progrès.
READ ALSO
France faces political pressure: Budget, student protests, and elections are changing the situation
This article was translated from the original Slovak version with the assistance of AI.
