By GB News (World News) | Created at 2026-10-01 01:50:58 | Updated at 2026-10-01 04:39:58
3 hours ago
More than 600 youths have been arrested after violent riots backed by senior far-left politicians erupted across France.
Secondary school students across the country have been taking to the streets in recent days to protest against overcrowded class sizes, heavy workloads and shortages of teaching staff.
Students had been seen blockading school gates and holding up placards during demonstrations, but Wednesday saw an "escalation of violence", Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said.
French authorities said a number of arson attacks and physical clashes had left dozens of security personnel injured.
The French Government confirmed that 83 police officers and gendarmes were wounded, alongside 32 students and teachers.
Mr Nunez strongly condemned the "targeting of law enforcement officers, the throwing of projectiles, acts of violence, verbal abuse, attempted arson, and what amounts... to urban violence".
The protests first began outside secondary schools in Paris, but have since spread to other parts of the country.
Paris, Bordeaux, Lyon and Lille saw the worst of the violence on Wednesday, with officers deploying tear gas in a bid to disperse unruly mobs.
The protests first began outside secondary schools in Paris, but has since spread to other parts of the country
REUTERS
Footage of the disorder appeared to show teachers being chased and attacked by gangs of balaclava-clad teenagers.
President Emmanuel Macron said the concerns of the students were legitimate, but slammed the violence against police and teaching staff.
He told reporters in Madrid: "High schools are meant to be open and to share knowledge. They are not meant to be blockaded or to have trash cans set on fire."
The French President and the Interior Minister laid the blame for the riots on far-left groups and figures.
Officers deployed tear gas in a bid to disperse unruly mobs in certain urban areas
GETTY
Jean-Luc Melenchon accused authorities of implementing a 'crackdown' on protestors with 'obvious racist undertones'
GETTY
Mr Nunez said: "We observed that, in certain places, there were individuals acting as agitators - people who, moreover, moved from one school to another to stir up high school and other students and incite them to commit acts of violence."
On Monday, Jean-Luc Melenchon, the far-left leader of the France Insoumise party (LFI), wrote on social media: "Hands off our youth!"
He accused the French authorities of implementing a "crackdown" on protesters with "obvious racist undertones" as he encouraged his followers to support the movement.
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu slammed Mr Melenchon's racism claim, branding it "an insult".
Seine-Saint Denis Mayor Bally Bagayoko was seen joining in with students, smiling and high-fiving pupils after a bin was set on fire
X/VISEGRAD24
He accused the far-left leader of "racialising a debate about student security and adding to division where a responsible politician should be looking to restore calm".
The LFI mayor of Paris suburb Seine-Saint-Denis, Bally Bagayoko, was seen joining in with students, smiling and high-fiving pupils after a bin was set on fire.
Mr Bagayoko also sparked outrage after claiming that in certain cases, "violence can be legitimate".
He citied students being hit with "flashballs" by riot police as an example of when it could be justified.
