Brief
One‑year‑old injured by firework during massive French student protests
Police say a one‑year‑old was hit by a firework near a Versailles school amid nationwide student protests that have drawn hundreds of thousands onto the streets.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Police reported that a one‑year‑old toddler was struck by a firework outside a school in Santi‑Cyr‑l’Ecole, on the outskirts of Versailles, on Tuesday. The child was rushed to hospital and treated for tinnitus, according to French authorities.
The incident occurred as roughly 450,000 people gathered in violent clashes with police across France, protesting what they describe as a failing economy and under‑funded schools. RMC radio said a high‑school student involved in the demonstrations was arrested in connection with the firework attack.
Fireworks have become a recurring weapon in the unrest. Reuters footage showed a fireworks mortar exploding near French CRS riot police, while other reports described a 16‑year‑old dousing a science teacher with gasoline in La Cioat and a 15‑year‑old losing a hand after a police stun grenade detonated earlier in the week.
Education Minister Édouard Geffray told lawmakers that 24 schools had been set ablaze or heavily vandalised, affecting at least 30,000 students. The students’ union said more than 2,000 schools were blockaded or closed on Wednesday, the largest day of disruption to date. Police say more than 6,500 people have been arrested since the protests began, and Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu defended the police response as necessary to curb the violent unrest.
Key facts
- A one‑year‑old was hit by a firework near a Versailles school and treated for tinnitus. (nypost.com)
- Around 450,000 people participated in nationwide student protests on Tuesday. (nypost.com)
- Police have arrested over 6,500 people since the protests began. (nypost.com)
- Education Minister Édouard Geffray reported 24 schools damaged and 30,000 students affected. (nypost.com)
- A 15‑year‑old lost a hand after a police stun grenade exploded earlier in the week. (nypost.com)
Sources
- [1] nypost.com — originally reported as “One-year-old baby struck by fireworks in violent student protests raging across France”
