More than 400 people—mostly teenagers—were arrested across France on Tuesday as student‑led blockades at high schools escalated into violence. Police said at least 48 officers, 10 teachers, and a number of students were injured while protests turned into fires and clashes that left machinery and waste bins set ablaze.
The demonstrations grew out of long‑standing complaints over overcrowding and teacher shortages and began in the Île‑de‑France region before spreading nationwide. Students have vowed to keep schools closed until their demands for a reformed education system are heard.
"We're here to deliver a message," a 16‑year‑old female student told AFP. "We are not here to slam anything. We are here to say that the education system is broken," she added, citing overcrowded classrooms and overworked teachers.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said more than a third of those arrested were taken into custody, while police described their response as "extremely proportionate". The Education Minister, Édouard Geffray, condemned the violence but reaffirmed the right to protest, calling the use of force "indefensible."
The protests coincided with a national walk‑out by teachers, hospital staff and civil servants demanding better wages and conditions. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu warned against further escalation, describing the violence as "irresponsible" and noting the potential danger to students, staff and officers.
