Shoppers across France forced entry and scuffled inside Lidl supermarkets on Thursday as a heavily promoted sale of low-cost air conditioners and fans drew large crowds ahead of another expected heatwave. At a store in Nanterre, west of Paris, the surge of people damaged the entrance door, and only about ten customers ultimately left with a device, according to French media. Police were called to at least two locations in the Paris region to restore order, and some reports indicated that tear gas was deployed to disperse altercations.

Long queues began forming in the early hours, with some customers arriving as early as 1 a.m., local media reported. When doors opened, crowds rushed inside, leading to shoving, shouting, and physical confrontations. Video footage circulated on social media showed women screaming and crying amid the scramble, and shelves were emptied within minutes. At a store in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, east of the capital, around sixty people had lined up overnight, and parking areas were overwhelmed.

The discount chain had advertised 200,000 units nationwide, with portable air conditioners priced at €179 and basic tower fans at €15. Elsewhere in France, similar units typically sell for over €1,200, leaving many households without affordable cooling options. The promotion came as Météo-France warned of temperatures reaching 37°C to 40°C over the weekend, following a record-breaking June heatwave that, according to medical sources, led to excess deaths, strained hospitals, and forced school closures.

French media noted that few homes and schools are equipped with air conditioning, a vulnerability scientists link to more frequent and intense heat episodes driven by global warming. Lidl has not publicly commented on the incidents. The sale was limited to Thursday, and stocks were rapidly exhausted. Authorities have not confirmed any serious injuries, and the situation was brought under control by late morning.