Attacked owner of looted Paris shop: '10 years of work destroyed, I have not slept in three days'
A small business owner in Paris recounts the destruction of his shop during recent riots, expressing despair over the loss of his livelihood. Despite his efforts to protect the property, the shop was looted, leaving him with significant financial burdens.
Why it matters
This story illustrates the collateral damage of civil unrest on small business owners and the economic impact of urban violence.
Hassan recalls breaking down in tears, after he was forced to abandon his tech and courrier shop, located on a main street off the Place de la République in Paris, to rioters who ransacked his premises over the weekend."They attacked me physically and threatened to break a wine bottle on my head. I was forced to abandon my business", he told Euronews.Originally from Bangladesh, the father of three arrived in France in 2010. He spent years working in hospitality, before he saved enough to open a shop with his associate in 2016."About 10 years ago, we built this place up gradually, bit by bit," he said."This was once my workspace, but now there's nothing there.
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