French employers group chief warns against getting arms for protection

The head of the French employers' association warned business owners in the country on Tuesday against arming themselves to protect their shops after widespread looting from violent protests erupted over the country.

Patrick Martin, the head of Medef, told private broadcaster RMC, that he is worried that store owners could arm themselves.

"I understand them, but I advise them against it," Martin said. "We continue to uphold the rule of law, even though it has obviously failed in this case," the association head said. "We must not fall into the trap set by the far left and the Black Bloc, who want nothing more than a civil war."

The Black Bloc is a group of protesters dressed in black, generally associated with the far-left, who carry out violent protests.

Looting in Paris, Marseille and other cities on the fringes of demonstrations against high living costs affected around 3,000 shops nationwide on Saturday and Sunday, according to the government. The shops were promised help.

In the pedestrian zone in Bordeaux, some business owners were prepared to protect themselves with weapons, according to a report by broadcaster Europe 1.

"When rioters turn up, we are armed. With weapons that hurt or instil fear," said the owner of a clothing shop. "For example, with iron bars. We take the bar and knock them down with it."

"We do that because the state is not doing its job. That is the only solution."

Caroline, a shop assistant at a clothing store, told the broadcaster that she had decided to keep a tear gas canister within reach. "Since there are only two of us in our shop, I have a tear gas canister behind me. It is in my drawer there. I will get it out if we are ever in danger," she said.

Sophie, another shop owner, did not want to get a weapon and was more afraid of a confrontation with possible looters. "I do not want to risk my life for phone cases," she told Europe 1.