French school protests turn violent, hundreds of police hurt, thousands held
Violence at French school protests has injured hundreds of police and education staff and led to more than 5,000 arrests, interior minister Laurent Nunez said.
Student protests against teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms and poor conditions in French schools have escalated into violent clashes with police in cities across the country, with more than 5,000 people arrested, interior minister Laurent Nunez said. Nunez said 85% of those detained are minors.
More than 300 police and gendarmes have been injured in operations since Monday, Nunez said. Education minister Edouard Geffray said 65 education staff, including 40 head teachers, and 170 students have been injured.
Among the most serious incidents, a student lost the sight in one eye after being struck by a rubber bullet, and a group of students attacked a police officer after he was accused of holding a student's head underwater, Greek broadcaster ERT News reported. In Marseille, a 15-year-old was arrested after using a flamethrower against a woman who tried to stop him vandalising a tram stop, ERT News reported. In southern France, a teacher was doused in petrol and an attempt was made to set him alight, the broadcaster said.
A teacher in La Ciotat, near Marseille, told French broadcaster BFMTV he was doused in petrol by students and was meant to be set on fire, German outlet Kronen Zeitung reported. Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of the left-wing La France Insoumise party, denied the incident took place and said it was part of a "campaign" against his party, Kronen Zeitung reported.
A secondary school in Metz, the Lycee Francois Rabelais, burned down on Friday night during protests in the area, ERT News reported. Footage circulating on social media also showed a police trainee in Paris knocked to the ground and attacked by a group of young rioters who shouted "kill her", Kronen Zeitung reported, and a masked individual burning a woman's face with a flamethrower in a separate video.
Nunez blamed social media and the influence of the La France Insoumise party for helping mobilise the unrest, which he described as a wave of unrestrained violence around schools, Kronen Zeitung reported. Justice minister Gerald Darmanin called on prosecutors to pursue parents' civil liability for damage caused by their minor children.
Students have said they are protesting poor conditions including rats and cockroaches in school buildings and classes of up to 35 pupils, Kronen Zeitung reported. Student representatives condemned the violence but called for protests to continue, with a new demonstration planned for Tuesday, a further one backed by Melenchon on 6 October, and another on 17 October that coincides with a planned "yellow vests" protest.
What we know
- Official · interior minister More than 5,000 people have been arrested since the protests began, 85% of them minors, the interior minister said
- 1 outlet · Kronen Zeitung More than 300 police and gendarmes have been injured
- Official · education minister 65 education staff and 170 students have been injured, the education minister said
- 2+ outlets · ERT News, SigmaLive A student lost sight in one eye after being hit by a rubber bullet
- 1 outlet · Kronen Zeitung A school in Metz burned down during protests on Friday night
- 1 outlet · ERT News A 15-year-old was arrested in Marseille over a flamethrower attack on a woman
Not yet confirmed
- Unconfirmed A teacher's account of being doused in petrol in La Ciotat, which Jean-Luc Melenchon disputes
How each fact is established: Verified checked by an ECTV editorOfficial stated by an official body2+ outlets reported independently by two or more news organisations1 outlet reported by a single news organisation so farUnconfirmed claimed or reportedHow we label facts
Why it matters for Europe
The scale of arrests, with the interior minister saying 85% of those held are minors, marks an escalation of France's school protests from a dispute over teaching conditions into a nationwide public order crisis. Further protests are already planned for this month, including one backed by a national political leader, raising the risk of further clashes.
Sources
Reported by 4 reports from 4 independent outlets in 4 countries.
- ERT News: Γαλλία: Σκηνές σκληρής βίας στις διαδηλώσεις για την Παιδεία – Μαθητής έχασε το μάτι του, καθηγήτρια δέχθηκε επίθεση με φλογοβόλο
- SigmaLive: Γαλλία: Σκηνές βίας στις διαδηλώσεις για την Παιδεία-Μαθητής έχασε το μάτι του
- Luxemburger Wort: Frankreich nach Gewalt bei Schülerprotesten erschüttert
- Kronen Zeitung: Benzinattacken, Gewalt - „Tötet sie!“ Schüler setzen Frankreich in Brand
Source balance
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Questions and answers
- How many people have been arrested in the French school protests?
- More than 5,000, with 85% of them minors, the interior minister said.
- What are the students protesting about?
- Teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms and poor conditions, including reports of rats and cockroaches in school buildings.
- Are more protests planned?
- Yes, further demonstrations are planned for 6 and 17 October, in addition to one planned for Tuesday.
This article was written with AI assistance from 4 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.