School protests spread in France as fires break out and teachers injured
Several school principals were injured, harassed or assaulted during blockades at high schools.
French school protests escalated, with teachers assaulted and fires erupting across the nation. Students protested against overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages, and deteriorating facilities. Over 160 schools closed their doors, and university students joined the demonstrations in Paris, Marseille, and other cities. The authorities in the Paris region reported around 50 schools experiencing violence and damage.
Students set fire to bins and blocked access to schools in several cities, demanding better learning conditions. Police detained hundreds of protesters, and several school principals were injured or harassed during the blockades. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez condemned the unbridled violence, while the government labeled the demonstrations as urban unrest, attributing it to radical left organizations.
The unrest coincides with high inflation and impending presidential elections, where far-right leader Marine Le Pen is the frontrunner.
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