Politics · France · 1 day ago
Protests disrupt hundreds of French schools as clashes injure students and police
Students have protested overcrowded classrooms, poor buildings and teacher shortages in France.
The protests have spread to many schools, and some have been blocked or closed.
Clashes have caused injuries, including to two students hit by police weapons.
Authorities are investigating some police actions and have suspended one type of stun grenade.
Protests have disrupted hundreds of high schools across France, with clashes injuring students, police officers and teachers.
The French Interior Ministry said 266,000 people protested on Tuesday, including 56,000 in Paris.
A 16-year-old student in Tours lost the sight of his right eye after being hit by a police rubber bullet, according to the article.
A 15-year-old student in Lens had his hand blown off during a protest, after which the interior minister ordered police to suspend use of a new stun grenade.
The education ministry reported that 891 high schools had been disrupted or blockaded, while as many as 500 were closed by authorities.
- Who
- High-school students and other protesters, police, teachers and French authorities.
- What
- Protests over school conditions have disrupted schools and led to clashes and injuries.
- When
- The protests began in late September and were ongoing at the time of publication on October 9, 2026.
- Where
- Across France, including Paris, Tours and Lens.
- Why
- The protests were ostensibly triggered by overcrowded classrooms, decaying buildings and teacher shortages.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
They are random men with masks who mobilise their followers on Snapchat.
We believe it was their violence that provoked the police to attack with rubber bullets.
organised riots
urban violence
School protests began in France.
The Interior Ministry said 266,000 protesters took to the streets nationwide, including 56,000 in Paris.
Interior minister Laurent Nunez ordered police to suspend use of a new type of stun grenade after a 15-year-old student was seriously injured in Lens.
- Nationwide protesters
- 266,000
- Protesters in Paris
- 56,000
- Disrupted or blockaded high schools
- 891
- Schools closed by authorities
- Up to 500
- Injured gendarmes
- Nearly 800
- Injured teachers
- 85
Sources
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