Massive riots broke out in France, following the June 27 police shooting of a teenager of Algerian descent in a suburb of Paris.

Thousands of buildings have been burned. Cars were smashed and burned, with stores looted and streets and buildings destroyed. Now, as the savage riots begin to subside, the world is getting a look at the true cost of the damage done.

The French business analytics firm Medef is now out with an estimate about the scale of this damage. It says over $1 billion was destroyed so far in the riots.

As CEO Geoff Bezieux says, whether or not these riots and the damage will be “long-lasting” is still up for question. He added there’s no doubt tourism will be heavily impacted and many cancellations have already come through from concerned travelers.

Medef notes over 300 banks were vandalized and smashed, as well as upwards of 500 shops of all kinds.

The $1 billion estimate is just for visible business damage. Medef notes that actual damage when you include homes and houses of worship may be much higher.

France’s government says it will help pay for repairs for those who had property damaged or destroyed as a result of the violent uprising.

The scale of the savagery in France is hard to comprehend. Anger over a police killing led tens of thousands of people to rise up, including many who were heavily armed, and begin destroying the country.

This makes the George Floyd riots of 2020 look pale in comparison. Over 3,500 were arrested as a result of this revolt.

Violence in Paris, Marseilles, Lyon, and many other cities has shocked France as it grapples with deep racial and economic divisions.

Those arrested should face heavy charges. The solution to injustice is not wanton destruction of innocent people’s lives and businesses.