440 detained as French teens clash with police in school protest crackdown
PARIS: French teenagers on Tuesday set fire to rubbish bins and threw projectiles at police who responded with batons and tear gas, with hundreds detained across the country over the blockades and protests demanding better conditions at schools.
Paris, France - French teenagers initiated a series of violent protests and blockades targeting schools across the country on Tuesday, prompting a significant police response. Hundreds of students and staff members were detained, with Interior Minister Laurent Nunez reporting that 440 individuals were arrested nationwide. The unrest, centered around overcrowded classrooms, inadequate facilities, and heated classrooms during the summer heatwave, began in the Paris metropolitan area but has since spread to various cities throughout France.
Education Minister Edouard Geffray denounced the violence, calling it "unspeakable" and warning that such actions could put both students and public officials at risk. Students and teachers reportedly engaged in confrontations with police, setting fire to rubbish bins and throwing objects such as bottles, paving stones, and other projectiles.
In some instances, teachers formed a line to shield students from law enforcement. The protests have also garnered support from student unions and teachers' associations, who plan nationwide demonstrations and strikes in response to the government's budgetary decisions.
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