Student, 17, hospitalised after clash with police at Marseille lycée protest
A 17-year-old pupil needed six stitches after being struck in the head during a police operation at a blockaded Marseille lycée on Wednesday, teachers said.
A 17-year-old pupil was taken to hospital with a head injury after riot police intervened at a blockaded lycée in Marseille on Wednesday morning, teachers at the school said. The pupil received six stitches to the head and was later discharged, French public broadcaster Franceinfo reported.
Dozens of CRS riot officers arrived at the Lycée Marie-Curie, in the city's 5th arrondissement, during the morning as pupils and teachers blockaded the entrance in a nationwide wave of school protests, a statement by the school's staff said. Teachers formed a human chain between the officers and pupils, who sat on the ground in a show of non-violent resistance, according to the statement, which said a "charge" was then ordered.
Teachers were trampled and forced away, and two pupils were injured, the staff statement said. The 17-year-old, who was bleeding heavily from the head, was treated by marine firefighters, who were also called to extinguish a bin fire outside the lycée shortly afterwards. Tear gas and dispersal grenades were used, the staff said.
The Bouches-du-Rhône police prefecture disputed parts of the account, saying tear gas was used to disperse the crowd but denying that any dispersal grenade had been deployed. It said about 100 people had gathered outside the lycée, blocking the school and the public road and creating a danger to themselves and others, and that some had covered their faces. The prefecture said four CRS officers were injured, along with one pupil, and that another pupil, suspected of firing mortar-style fireworks at police, had been arrested.
A prosecutor's investigation into intentional violence was opened on Wednesday, Franceinfo reported. The injured pupil, a final-year student, said he had been struck on the head with a baton and that he intended to file a complaint.
Education unions called for a strike and further protests on Thursday in support of the pupils, and a collective of Marseille schools urged a "massive mobilisation" at the lycée and at schools across the city and the country, BFMTV reported.
What we know
- A 17-year-old pupil was hospitalised with a head injury after a CRS operation at the blockaded Lycée Marie-Curie in Marseille on Wednesday, school staff said.
- The pupil received six stitches to the head and was discharged from hospital, Franceinfo reported; he said he intends to file a complaint.
- The Bouches-du-Rhône police prefecture said four CRS officers and one pupil were injured, and that another pupil was arrested on suspicion of firing mortar-style fireworks.
- A prosecutor's investigation into intentional violence was opened on Wednesday.
- Teachers' unions called for a strike and protests on Thursday in support of the pupils.
Why it matters for Europe
The Marseille incident happened on the second day of nationwide lycée protests, with French pupils blockading schools and marching in cities around the country this week. Teachers' unions have accused police of using disproportionate force outside at least one school, while authorities have defended their response as necessary to maintain order and public safety.
Sources
Reported by 5 reports from 5 independent outlets in 1 countries.
- Le Figaro: Marseille : un élève de 17 ans et des CRS blessés en marge d’un blocus lycéen
- BFMTV: Des enseignants et des élèves dénoncent une intervention des forces de l'ordre devant un lycée de Marseille, un jeune blessé à la tête
- BFMTV: Mobilisation lycéenne: un élève blessé à la tête par une matraque à Marseille
- BFMTV: Mobilisation au lycée Marie-Curie à Marseille : un élève de 17 ans blessé au crâne et hospitalisé
- Franceinfo: Un lycéen va porter plainte après avoir été blessé à la tête lors d'une charge de CRS devant son établissement, à Marseille, une enquête ouverte
Source balance
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Questions and answers
- What happened at the Marseille lycée?
- Riot police intervened at a blockade outside Lycée Marie-Curie on Wednesday, and a 17-year-old pupil was hospitalised with a head injury, teachers said.
- Do police dispute the account?
- Yes. The Bouches-du-Rhône prefecture denied using a dispersal grenade and said only one pupil, not two, was injured, while four CRS officers were hurt.
- What happens next?
- Prosecutors have opened an investigation into intentional violence, and education unions have called for a strike and further protests on Thursday.
This article was written with AI assistance from 7 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.