Lead

Hundreds of shoppers besieged Lidl supermarkets in and around Paris on Thursday, with scuffles and shouting matches breaking out as residents scrambled to get their hands on bargain air-cooling units before the next heatwave hits the French capital, according to multiple reports.

With few air conditioners on sale elsewhere for less than €1,200 ($1,400), police were called to at least two stores as huge crowds descended on Lidl supermarkets trying to get basic models on sale for as low as €179.

Coverage comparison

Al Jazeera reported that supermarket chaos erupted in France as shoppers raced to buy Lidl's discounted air conditioners and fans amid a scorching heatwave, with hundreds queuing for hours before stores opened. The outlet noted that police monitored crowds in Paris and that a store entrance was broken in Nanterre amid the rush.

France 24 (English) and the South China Morning Post both reported that hundreds of people were besieging Lidl supermarkets, with scuffles and shouting matches breaking out as residents scrambled for the units. Both outlets also noted that police were called to at least two stores and that the air-cooling units were on sale for as low as €179. France 24 described the scenes as "madness" and included direct quotes from shoppers, while the South China Morning Post also carried direct quotes.

Key claims

  • Hundreds of people besieged Lidl supermarkets in and around Paris, with scuffles and shouting matches breaking out as residents scrambled for discounted air-cooling units, according to multiple reports.
  • Police were called to at least two stores, with huge crowds descending on Lidl supermarkets for models priced as low as €179, as reported by France 24 and the South China Morning Post.
  • A store entrance was broken in Nanterre amid the rush, according to Al Jazeera.
  • France has just been through a record heatwave that led to excess deaths, overwhelmed hospitals, closed schools, and cancelled music festivals, as reported by France 24 and the South China Morning Post.
  • Weather services are forecasting another round of hot weather this coming weekend, according to both outlets.
  • Few homes and schools in France are equipped with air conditioning, making them ill-equipped to face increasingly frequent heatwaves that scientists say are linked to global warming, as reported by France 24 and the South China Morning Post.

Perspectives

Far-right opposition

France 24 reported that air conditioning has emerged as a political issue in France, with the main far-right opposition party criticising the government for not having prepared for hotter weather.

Ecologists

France 24 also reported that ecologists are warning of the heavy energy demands of running air conditioners.