Key facts
- 440 people, mostly minors, were arrested in French school protests.
- 76 people were injured, including pupils and staff.
- One young man lost the use of part of his hand after firing a mortar firework.
- Up to 400 of France's 3,700 lycées for 15-18 year-olds have been blockaded.
- The USL student union called for further action on Thursday and a large national protest on October 6.
A wave of protests across France, initially focused on overcrowded classes and teacher shortages, has escalated with hundreds of arrests and dozens of injuries. The demonstrations, which began in Paris, have spread to major cities including Dijon, Lyon, Strasbourg, Lille, and Marseille, with students blockading their schools for days.
Education Minister Édouard Geffray stated that while some of the students' demands were legitimate, he was concerned about the violence. He noted that dozens of people, including pupils and staff, had been injured, and one young man lost the use of part of his hand after firing a mortar firework. The USL, a secondary school students' union, estimates that up to 400 of France's 3,700 lycées have been blockaded and has called for further action.
Incidents reported include bins being set alight outside a school in Strasbourg and police using tear gas to disperse students in Dijon. In Paris, a teacher was reportedly attacked after trying to report a burning bin, and a student suffered a serious eye injury, with unconfirmed reports suggesting a police flashball was involved. Protesters have been accused of hurling projectiles at police, who responded with tear gas and batons.
Politicians have weighed in on the protests. The LFI party and some of its members have been criticized for their support of the demonstrations, with one mayor pictured dancing with protesting students. The conservative head of the Île-de-France region demanded the mayor pay for some of the damage. The French Interior Minister defended the police response as proportionate, while the USL president accused the government of repression and police of using excessive force.