Brief
French riots force closure of over 500 schools and spark hundreds of arrests
Education minister Edouard Geffray said the unrest was sparked by hard‑left politicians, while justice minister Gerald Darmanin warned that many detainees are not students.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Thousands of people were arrested and more than 500 schools closed as French student protests escalated into violent riots, according to the Independent.
What happened
On Thursday, police detained 1,949 individuals, while at least 65 school staff – including 40 headteachers – were injured. Demonstrators set fire to school buildings in Paris, Marseille, Nantes, Strasbourg and Toulouse, and attacked teachers with weapons such as iron bars and petrol.
What the reports add
The Independent noted that a teacher in Angers was struck on the head with an iron bar, and that teenagers suffered eye injuries and a loss of teeth, as reported by the BBC. Footage shared by the Daily Mail showed a student gang beating a policewoman holding a tear‑gas canister.
What was said
Education minister Edouard Geffray told reporters that the protests were “legitimate” and said he would meet union and parent representatives the following day. Justice minister Gérald Darmanin told RTL radio that an “active and violent minority” – not necessarily high‑school students – was behind the escalation.
How it came about
Earlier coverage by Felo News described the same wave of unrest, noting that more than 560 high schools were disrupted and that a headteacher at Victor Hugo high school in Marseille was doused in petrol. The current figures show the situation has worsened, with school closures now exceeding 500.
Key facts
- More than 500 schools were closed amid the protests (independent.co.uk)
- 1,949 people were arrested on Thursday (independent.co.uk)
- At least 65 school staff, including 40 headteachers, were injured (independent.co.uk)
- Education minister Edouard Geffray said the demands were legitimate (independent.co.uk)
- Justice minister Gérald Darmanin said many detainees are not students (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “Hundreds of schools closed and dozens of teachers attacked as French riots escalate”
