Thousands detained as French student protests turn violent, prompting school closures
Around 2,000 arrests have been made since student demonstrations over teacher shortages and school conditions escalated into clashes, leading to the closure of about 400 schools in France.
About 400 schools across France are expected to stay closed on Friday after student demonstrations over teacher shortages and deteriorating school facilities turned violent in several locations. The unrest, which began in the Paris region last month, has spread nationwide, resulting in dozens of injuries and hundreds of arrests.
"There is an active and violent minority participating in the protests... We’re not entirely sure that they are even high-school students themselves," Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin told RTL radio, noting that roughly 2,000 people have been arrested since the protests began, with about two-thirds placed in police custody. Incidents reported on Thursday include fires set at two high schools, petrol being thrown at teachers in a third school in Marseille, a car torched in Strasbourg, and clashes between riot police and youths in Toulouse. Similar protests were reported in Liège, Belgium, where local media said schools would close on Friday, though municipal officials have not confirmed the decision.