Jewish pharmacist's shop destroyed in riots

The business owner described the long road she traveled to establish the pharmacy: she is a mother of three children, who opened the business when she was seven months pregnant, and returned to work just two weeks after giving birth. She invested her money and all her energy in the place, building it from scratch out of a desire to help residents and patients who needed her services.

The destruction was not limited to looting attempts. Air conditioning systems, lighting fixtures and advanced robotic equipment were also vandalized. Now left behind are a destroyed building, ruined equipment and lost medications, alongside patients left without the medical care they expected.

"You want to steal, steal, but why break my air conditioner," she said in sorrow.

"80% of the attackers were Muslim"

Meanwhile, another Muslim business owner from the southern city of Marseille gave dramatic testimony following the heavy damage caused to her shop during the wave of riots. "I am Muslim in my faith, a moderate Muslim, and I am ashamed to say that 80% of the attackers and looters were from my community," the business owner emphasized tearfully in her testimony to French media.

She added painfully that she saw young people fighting each other outside her shop over looted luxury bags, in a situation where the thief steals from the thief. During her attempt to defend her life's work and the shop in which all her savings were invested, the business owner was physically attacked by one of the rioters.

"I was hit by a person who punched me. I received a sick leave certificate for 15 days. There were people who defended me, but I felt like I was in a civil war," she recounted. She noted that the rioters were armed with knives and Japanese knives, and that she barricaded herself inside the shop together with others while thousands of people crowded the streets.

Her anger and despair are now also directed at the failure of law enforcement and assistance. According to her, from 2:30 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. there was no police presence in the area, and when she turned to the insurance company for help, she was told to manage on her own.

The riots in France have deteriorated in recent days into particularly violent confrontations, which included arson of public buildings, property destruction and looting. Shop windows were smashed, brand stores were looted and expensive merchandise was taken. Among the businesses affected were shops of well-known luxury brands, including Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Rolex and Kenzo.

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced a dramatic move following the riots, declaring a local nighttime curfew to be announced by city and district heads. This is a dramatic move that limits the right of French citizens to move around major city centers during nighttime hours. One city in France has already officially declared a curfew: Denain, in the north, where minors and adults alike will be prohibited from being on the streets "from 9:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m." until Sunday, October 25.