Seven Apple stores across France are closed today as the country prepares for another round of demonstrations, one week after looters targeted two locations. All three Paris stores -- Champs-Élysées, Opéra, and Marché Saint-Germain -- are among the affected locations. Additionally, Bordeaux Sainte-Catherine, Lille, Strasbourg, and Aix-en-Provence are closed on Saturday.
The closures serve as a precaution to protect employees and stores during the protests. Stores with street-level entrances are affected, while mall-based locations are expected to operate normally. Apple's Lille and Bordeaux stores were looted during October 17 unrest, both among many businesses targeted.
The demonstrations concern rising living costs and poor school conditions, according to the Associated Press. Hundreds of thousands protested peacefully, but violence and looting broke out in several cities. Following the looting, reports emerged of stolen iPhones displaying warnings that they had been disabled and were being tracked, with instructions to return them to their stores of origin.
Three Paris stores, Bordeaux Sainte-Catherine, and Aix-en-Provence list Sunday opening hours of noon to 6 p.m. Apple's Lille and Strasbourg pages show those stores will remain closed on Sunday and reopen on Monday.
Source: MacRumors · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing