In Rennes, more than 1,000 people were locked up in the Alma center after an attempted intrusion by demonstrators – Rennes

A somewhat surreal scene at the Alma shopping center in Rennes this Saturday, March 18. At the stroke of 3:30 p.m., the shopping mall lowered all its gates in the greatest confusion, locking more than 1,000 customers inside. Panicked, some people tried to force their way in by knocking on the doors, others went around each exit, in vain…

Throughout the gallery, an audible announcement was quickly played in an attempt to reassure the crowd that it had been ordered closed for security reasons due to a protest. “A hundred young demonstrators were heading towards our house”, specifies Mickael, security guard at Carrefour Alma. “The police notified us and the entire shopping mall was immediately closed, including the aerial parking lot.”

Students from Rennes 2 wanted to carry out an action in the Alma center

For long minutes, the Alma center turned into a real bunker. No one was able to enter or leave. Dumbfounded, many people who came to shop also gathered in front of the entrances outside to try to understand what was going on.

A few dozen meters away, around 100 students from Rennes 2 watched the scene from behind. They had planned to enter the Alma center to carry out an economic blockade action as part of the social movement against the pension reform – but they found the gates closed when they arrived. “The shopping center was scared and had to close, so it’s still a success,” says one of them.

After police arrived at the scene, the students left and the mall was able to reopen just over 30 minutes after closing. “I’m happy to finally be out,” said Gwenaël, who had come to do his shopping. “The situation was quite confused inside. People didn’t understand what was going on. It’s a shame to go after a mall. Store employees and customers will also be impacted by the reform. The demonstrators are on the wrong target”. Several minutes after the mall reopened, police were still present to control entrances.