More than 400 detained as France student protests escalate

More than 400 individuals, primarily teenagers, were arrested in France on Tuesday due to student protests occurring across numerous high schools nationwide, according to the country's interior minister. The demonstrations, which initially emerged in Paris and have persisted for several days, have been fueled by concerns such as overcrowded classrooms and a lack of teachers.

At least 10 educators, numerous students, and 48 police officers sustained injuries during the Tuesday unrest, officials reported. The education ministry confirmed that a minimum of 400 schools were impacted. Visual content and videos showed bins being set ablaze and bus stops damaged by demonstrators.

One 16-year-old female student expressed her rationale for participating, stating, "We're here to deliver a message. We're not here to smash everything up for no reason. We're here precisely to say that the education system is completely broken. There are 34 of us in each class, and it's just not feasible. The teachers are overworked." French Education Minister Édouard Geffray acknowledged students' right to protest, yet vehemently denounced reports of violence as "indefensible."

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez informed BFMTV that a total of 440 people were detained, with two-thirds of them being taken into police custody. French media outlets reported that protesters hurled objects at police, who responded with batons and tear gas. Ryad Rani, president of Union Syndicale Lycéenne, the students' union, accused the French government of "repression" and criticized the police for employing excessive force.

When questioned about the police's handling of the protests, which has faced criticism from several French politicians, Nuñez maintained that the response had been "carried out in an extremely proportionate manner."

Education Minister Geffray expressed his disapproval on social media, emphasizing that while the right to demonstrate is a fundamental freedom, it should not justify such actions. He warned that legitimizing these protests or advocating for the extension of blockades would put students and public employees at risk, describing it as irresponsible.

Students had initiated their action in the Île-de-France region surrounding Paris last week. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu had warned on Monday that any escalation in the student protests would be "irresponsible," citing incidents including fireworks, fires, and violence near high schools. On Tuesday, nationwide walkouts by unions representing teachers, hospital staff, and civil servants supporting similar causes continued, with at least 200,000 participants reported, and most of the protests proceeded without major incidents.